Prabhakar Parshuram Wairkar
Mumbai – India
Email: wairkarp@gmail.com
Prabhakar Wairkar (b. 1951, Katta, tal. Malvan, Maharashtra) is a well-known painter, cartoonist, caricaturist and illustrator. He studied at the prestigious Sir J. J School of Art, Mumbai and attained a Government Diploma in Applied Art in 1977. He embarked into a career in commercial art and worked at various well known advertising agencies of his time such as, Saubhagya, Trikaya Grey, Sista’s and Rediffusion Y&R. Soon, he became a popular name in the industry for his illustrations and received accolades, both nationally and internationally. During his ongoing career in advertising, he also found a passion in caricaturing and cartooning. Prabhakar’s style of caricaturing people live in action in a matter of few seconds and his witty cartoons on national and international issues in politics were deeply admired and graced the pages of prominent English and Marathi dailies, magazines and journals like The Indian Express, The Times of India, The Sunday Observer, The Independent, The Indian Post, Business World, Blitz, The Daily, Sportsworld, Debonair, Ekach Shatkar, Savvy, Mid Day, Verve, Cricket Watch, like Aaple Mahanagar, Maharashtra Times, Loksatta, Lokprabha, Marmik, to name a few. He was also featured in the ‘Eminent Cartoonists of India’ documentary by Doordarshan alongside famed cartoonists RK Lakshman and Mario Miranda. One of the greatest honours of his life was to illustrate the children’s version of Dreams to Reality, the autobiography of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Currently, his cartoons are published daily in the ‘Sakaal’ publication Ltd.
Solo paitings Exhibitions
2017 ‘Hindola’ Paintings Exhibition at Neharu Centre Art Gallery [ Main], Mumbai
2013: KAMDHENU at Gallerie Leela, Sahar, Mumbai
2012: Paintings and Caricatures at Nehru Centre Art Gallery, Mumbai
2011: Caricatures on luminaries of Indian dance and music at Savai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, Pune
2010: Cartoons Exhibition at Indian Institute of Cartoonist, Bengaluru
2005: The Life Illustrated at Pu La Deshpande Sabhagriha, Mumbai, India
1996: Cartoons and Illustrations at Shreepati Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
Group exhibitions:
2018- Jaipur Kala Kendra painting exhibition, Jaipur
2018- Cartoon Group Show , Amravati
Cartoon Group Show , Nagpur
Cartoon group show , Pune
2017: ‘’Sahayog ‘’at Coomaraswamy hall, Mumbai
2014 ‘’ Art 11’’ group show at Coomaraswamy hall, Mumbai
2014: Paintings and Cartoons at Pu La Yuva Mahotsav, Mumbai
2014: Cartoons at PL Deshpande Art Gallery, Mumbai
2014: Paintings at Kaladalan, Borivali, Mumbai
2013: ‘Sanyog’ at Cooramaswamy Hall, Mumbai
2007: My life my message – Mahatma Gandhi, Mumbai
2004: Cartoons on Globalisation at Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
2002: Eminent Cartoonists of India, Hyderabad
2006: India at a glance- Cartoons from India, Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany
2005/07: Float design, for Nice Carnival, France
1992-98: Salon International Cartoon Festival, France
1987: International Comic Festival, Switzerland
Awards:
2019: Aacharya Atre Cartoonist Award, Pune
2018 : Maya Kamath Memorial Award 2019, Bangalore, Special Jury Award
2002: ‘Eminent Cartoonists of India’ documentary by Doordarshan and felicitation by the Andhra Pradesh government
2000: Poster campaign nomination at the Cannes Advertising Festival, France.
1997/1998: Illustrator of the Year by the Communication Arts Guild (CAG), India
1986: Bronze Trophy for Illustration, Communication Arts Guild (CAG), India
Publications:
- Funcaar-I-Kachery, a Tribute to Indian Classical Music Maestros.
2005: Life Illustrated
2005: Cari-toons
1998: Bodyline
1996: Jest Doodling
Greetings From: India Toons