Artist, art critic, organizer, Administrator, and writer Former Administrator and Chairman,
Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi & Chairman, Karnataka Lalithakala Academy.
Present trustee of Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal.

Born in 1952 at Thirthahalli, Shimoga District, Karnataka, India

Studied Fine Arts and awarded National Diploma with distinction from University College of Fine Arts, Davangere.

Undertook Extensive Research during 1981- 82 in Graphics at Garhi Studios, New Delhi under Lalith Kala Academi’s scholarship.
Obtained Masters Degree in Literature from Mysore University.
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Worked as Lecturer in Fine Arts between 1977 - 80 at Govt. School Of Arts & Crafts(now University College Of Visual Art), Davangere.
Worked as Art Director, Clarion Advertising Services between 1980-85.
Worked as Managing Director of Vinyas Advertising, Bangalore, 1985-86
As Senior Manager headed Public Relations Dept at BEML Limited, KGF.

Major Awards

Elected Honorary Member of Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow, a rare honour and 3rd person from India to get this.
Vincent Van Gogh Award, instituted by Vincent Art Gallery
Raja Ravivarma Award 2017
Karnataka State Government’s Highest Award for Visual Arts “Venkatappa Award” for the year 2020
Rajeev Gandhi ‘Rashtreeya Rathna’ National Award from National Integration Council, New Delhi.
Karnataka Rajyothsava Award – 2003 from Govt. of Karnataka.
Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy’s Award – 2002
Certificate of merit in All India Jamini Roy Centenary Exhibition-1987, Kolkata, Juried by M.F Husain.
Gorur Prathishtana’s Gorur Award
Vishveshvarayya Literary Award for Best Art Book of the Decade.
Sahyadri Prashasthi from Sahyadri Sangha, Bangalore
Traffic Police Exhibition Award for Painting
Mysore Dasara Award 1975
Institution Of Translation Studies, Bangalore
Mayura Prashasthi from Surve Cultural Academy 2005
Kala Chethana Prashasthi from Gadag-2006.
‘Upadhyaaya Samman’ for contributions to art field
Karnataka Shilpakala Academy’s Suvarna Karnataka Gaurava-2007.
Karnataka Lalith Kala Academy’s Suvarna Karnataka Gourava-2008.
‘Bharatha Vikasa Rathna’ National Award-2011
Halbhavi National Award ‘Kuncha kalashri” instituted by Govt of Karnataka -2014
Kala Tapasvi Award 2018.
Rashtreeya Swasti Samman, National award 2019 from Kalavrit Nyas, Ujjain
Vasavi Excellence Award for life time achievement in 2022, by Arya Vaishya Mahasabha.
Hundreds of organisations have felicitated him on various occassions.

Major Exhibitions

Participated in Festival of India, USA during 1985-86 and the same works were exhibited at 17 prominent Galleries of USA, including California, New York, Los Angeles, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Held Solo Show at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi for 3 months in 2019, which is a rare honor for an artist
In 1988, exhibited in a group show in Manchester, UK.
In 2001 participated in an international Graphics Exhibition held at Municipal Gallery, Poland.
In 2002 participated in an international exhibition held in the Philippines.
Participated in Bharath Bhavan’s International Biennale, Bhopal.
Exhibited works in First Print Biennale-India in 2018 in the Pioneers of Printmaking Section
Participated in many of Central Lalith Kala Academi’s National Exhibitions; Rashtriya Kala Mela’s; Karnataka Lalith Kala Academy Exhibitions etc.
Participated in various group shows held in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Madras, Bhuvaneshwar, Bombay, Goa, Uadipur, Lucknow and other major cities.
Held solo exhibitions eighteen times in Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, including at Rashtrapati Bhavan(2019)
Participated in Karnataka Kala Yaathre Travelling Exhibition in 1984-85 and toured all over Karnataka
Participated in Chitra Yaathre Travelling Show conducted by Karnataka Lalithkala Academy all over Karnataka
Participated in many Group Shows in Bangalore and other places on various occasions
Participated in many International Online Shows, including Lalit Kala Akademi and Sanskar Bharati.

Commissioned Work

10 x 30 feet metal mural for Vijaya Bank Head Office, Bangalore.

Major Art Camps

International Artists Camp, Jaipur 2014
National Art Camp, Srinagar,2013
Camp Director for International Artists’ Camp, Mudubidri, 2014
International Artists’ Camp organized by TellusArt, Sweden, 2015
National Art Camp by SCZCC at Panaji, Goa 2013
Karnataka Lalithakala Academy’s Veteran Artists’ Camp, 2015
Veterans Camp by Bangalore Art Foundation
Artists Camp at Nandi Hills, conducted by Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy.
In 1985 Graphic Work Shop conduced by Mr. Krishna Reddy of New York University.
Convenor, National Artists’ Camp at Hampi University by Samskara Bharathi.
Camp Director, National Art Camp organized by Vinsent Art Gallery, Bangalore
In 1989 represented Karnataka and South India in All India Artists Camp at Haridwar (UP), conducted by UP Govt.
Participated in workshop on Painting on 50 Buses, conducted by Transport Department of Karnataka
Participated in many national and international art camps conducted by various organisations

Key Positions

Presently Trustee of Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal. Appointed by Govt of Madhya Pradesh
First artist to head as both Administrator and Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, appointed by Ministry of Culture, Govt of India
International Jury Member for Bangladesh Biennale 2018
Chairman, Steering Committee, Print Biennale India 2018
Chairman, Karnataka Lalithkala Academy, appointed by Govt Of Karnataka
Member of Apex Committee of NGMA and Advisory member, National Gallery Of Modern Art, nominated by Ministry of Culture, Govt Of India
Member of All India Board of Studies, All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE)
Member of Tagore fellowship Committee, Ministry Of Culture, Govt of India
Jury member of National Film Awards 2015
Academic Council member, Kannada University, Hampi
Academic Council Member, Karnataka Janapada Vishwavidyalaya
Member of all the Zonal Cultural Centers of India under the Chairmanship of respective Governors of the states
At present Executive Board Member and Finance committee member, Lalit kala Akademi, New Delhi
Film Censor Board Member, nominated by Govt. Of India in 1991-92.
Govt. Of Karnataka nominated him 4 times as member of Karnataka Lalith Kala Academy, which is a very rare honour in Art Community.
1999-2001 President, Karnataka Drushya Kalasahithya Parishath.
President, Karnataka Kalamela, which conducts art fairs.
Founder Member and President, Sanchalana Karnataka, an art body.
Visiting Faculty for Post Graduate Studies at Hampi University
Visiting Professor for Post Graduate Students at SALA, Mysore Open University
State Govt nominated him as Governing Council Member of Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore
Governing Council Member of University College of Fine Arts, Davangere
Governing Council Member for SALA, Open University, Mysore
Artist Selection Committee Member for Gulbarga Doordarshan
Juried many national and state level exhibitions
At present President, Dakahavisa, alumni of Davangere Art College.
Curator for Art Track- World Culture Festival - 2016, New Delhi, organized

by Art Of Living

Founded ‘Krishna Setty Foundation’ a non-profit organisation for art activities.

Social

Elected President of Students’ Action Committee, Davangere 1974
ABVP’s State Secretary from 1975 to 1978.
Participated in JP Movement in 1975 and detained under MISA for 14 months in Bangalore, Bellary and Davangere Jails.
Jayaprakash Narayan nominated him as member of Vidyarthi-Yuvajana Sangharsha samiti in 1974.
Many Post graduate art students have done dissertations on Krishna Setty at Hampi University.
Scholar Mrs Shwetha Surendra of Hampi University has done PhD on Life, works and contributions of Krishna Setty
Karnataka State Government’s Dept. of Information and Publicity has produced a documentary film on him in 2013-14
Till recently worked as Akhil Bharatiya Chitrakala sah Sanyojak of Sanskar Bharati.

Written Books on art under the titles:

Chithra–Chiththa(Awarded Best art book of the decade 2000),
Varnaavarana
Drushya Kale Endarenu
Expressionism
Lohaphalaka Maanthrika (LP Anchan)
MTV Acharya
Yusuf Arakkal

Contributions

1988 to 1996 Art Critic for Kannada Prabha Daily.
From 1996 to 2002 Art Critic for Praja Vani daily.
Also written several Art Criticism columns for Deccan Herald English daily.
Member of the editorial panel of ‘Sankula art magazine.
Edited many books for Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy and editor of the ‘Janapriya Male book series.
2 times Director of the workshops for state-level art writers held at Davangere and Raichur by Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy.

Organized Karnataka Kalamela’s seven times in Bangalore, with various positions.
Convenor for painting workshop for 50 Buses on Soujanya Masa, conducted by Transport Dept, Govt. Of Karnataka.
Written Exhibition Catalogues in both English and Kannada for many artists.
Presented research papers in many seminars on art at the International, national, and state levels.
Contributed articles both in English and Kannada for many important journals and books.
Conducted Art Appreciation Courses at many places in Karnataka.
Conducted many Art Camps for artists
Contributing Creative Kannada Copy Writing and Kannada Translations for Advertising Industry since 1982
Doordarshan interviewed him several times on it’s Channels.
As head of Central Lalit Kala Akademi Initiated many new programs such as First India Print Biennale, 1st International Kalamela, Tihar Art Fest(for the Tihar Jail) etc.

TV/Documentary Productions

Produced and directed 16 Episode serial Chithraantharanga (art appreciation) for Bangalore Doordarshan.
Produced and directed TV serial ‘Jeevana Chakra’ for Suprabhaatha Channel.
Produced and directed TV Serial ‘Mareechike’ for Bangalore Dooradarshan.
Produced and directed TV Serial “ Navilugari”
Directed many Educational TV serials for Edusat Programme, DSERT, Govt. Of Karnataka
Directed and produced 4 short films for Kannada & Culture Dept. Govt. Of Karnataka
Produced Documentary on “Mysore Traditional painting” for Karnataka Lalithakala Academy.
Conducted many Quiz Programs for Doordarshan
Interviewed many artists for Doordarshan telecast

Collections

His paintings are in the collections of many national and international collections including at Manchester, UK, Denmark, USA, Switzerland, Poland, Philippines, Sweden.
Central Lalith Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Bharath Bhavan, Bhopal, Karnataka Lalithakala Academy and in many private collections including Jawaharalal Nehru Centre, etc.

Artist, art critic, organizer, Administrator, and writer Former Administrator and Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi & Chairman, Karnataka Lalithakala Academy. Present trustee of Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal.