Founder

Dr.Mariyappa Gulejji, Founder and Principal of Chitrakala Academy Bangalore, was born in Huvina Hadagali in Bellary District, Karnataka, India, in 1956. After his primary education, he studied Fine Arts (Painting) at Vijaya Kalamandira in Gadag and passed ‗Kalanipuna‘ degree from Sri Kalanikethan School of Arts, Mysore. Thereafter, he started recording the bitter truth of life through his paintings.

He was influenced by his high school teacher Sri M.T. Veda Murthy Hadagali. He was also influenced by his preceptors and artists viz. Sri M.A. Chetti, Sri S. Kalappa and T.P. Akki during his course of ‗Kalanipuna‘ at Mysore. These teachers recognised his talent and guided him accordingly. His paintings that dealt with social concerns impressed the viewers greatly and created a deep impression on their minds. He also does contemporary paintings. He has exhibited at various Art Exhibitions; five such exhibitions earned him his name and made him popular. He has also participated in three state-level Art Conferences. His water colour paintings of city statues were unique and displayed the skill he had in that medium. His paintings drew the special attention of art critics and viewers alike during the ‗Janothsava‘ that was held in 1985. He has showcased his talent in water colour, oil, crayons, Indian Ink and various such mediums and has a mastery in water colour and sketch art.

His paintings were displayed in the 8th and 9th National Art Festival at Kolkata, Delhi and Nagpur. His paintings were also exhibited at Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy, Bangalore, Venkatappa Art Gallery, Bangalore, Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore, Dasara Art Exhibition at Mysore, Sahithya Sammelana, Karnataka Kala Mela etc.

Eminent people in media have also recognized his skills and generally have a good opinion about his paintings. For his contributions to the art world, he was awarded the ‗Seva Ratna‘ by Ex-Chief Minister of Karnataka, Ramakrishna Hedge, in 1997. He also received the Kempe Gowda Award in 2003 from Bangalore City Corporation and Vishala Karnataka Bhushana Award in 2004.

Gulejji has been associated with several organizations. The most prominent among them is Chitrakala Academy, founded in 1994 under Impan Educational and Charitable Trust (Reg). Mr. Gulejji is the Honourable Chairman of this academy and he concentrates on various kinds of art activities for school and college students. Chitrakala Academy is trying to nurture the artistic ability of budding artists.

The paintings of Mariyappa Gulejji are among the best examples of how the hidden talents of artists with rural backgrounds emerge in a special manner.

Mariyappa Gulejji is open-minded, sincerely dedicated in his work and is determined to achieve more in the field of creative arts.

ONE MAN SHOWS 

• Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore – 1986 
• Basava Bhavan, Bangalore – 1986 
• NGO’s Bhavan, Davanagere – 1987 (Karnataka State) 
• Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore – 1993
• State Government Employees Bhavan, Bangalore – 1993
• Kannada Sahithya Parishath, Mandya, 1993 (Karnataka State)
• BMS Law College, Bangalore – 1999 

GROUP SHOWS

• Mysore Dasara Festival – 1976, 1981, 1986
• Sri Kalanikethan School of Art, Mysore – 1978
• Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore – 1979
• Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy, Bangalore – 1986, 1995-96
• All India Youth Art Exhibition, Calcutta
  (Commemorating Jemini Roy Birth Centenary Year)
• All India MSS Sammelana, Bangalore – 1993 
• Venkatappa Art Gallery, Bangalore – 1993 
• Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi 8th Rashtriya Kalamela 1995 atRavindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore.
• The All India Art Teachers Art Exhibition 2001 at ChitrakalaParishat, Bangalore.
• Participation in ‘Chitra Santhe’ held in January 2010, 2011 at Bangalore and many other several art association in Bangalore, Karnataka State.

Camps

• Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy 1995
• Archaeology & Museums Dept Srirangapatna – 2003

Collection

Chief Minister of Karnataka (1992), Deputy Speaker Lok Sabha – New Delhi (1992), President, KPCC(Y) Bangalore Dept of Kannada & Culture Bangalore, Bellary and many private collections in various parts of India and abroad.

Kala Mela

• 5^th, 6^th Karnataka Kalamela Bangalore 1988, 1993
• 8^th, 9^th Rashtriya Kalamela-Bangalore 1995, Calcutta 1996 (CLKA – New Delhi)

Felicitation

• Honoured in 21-12-1993 on the occasion of Kala Jyothi Dr Rajkumar Abhimanigala Sangha, Lakshmipura, Hanumanth Nagar, Bangalore – 560019
• Honoured in 30-09-1994 on the occasion of Sri Panchamukhi Vinayaka Yuvakara Balaga, Lakshmipura, Hanumanth Nagar, Bangalore – 560019
• BCM classes awareness conference & presentation of Ambedkar Awards at Yuvanika Auditorium Bangalore in 12-08-2012 from AIF of SC/ST OBC Employees Welfare Association (R) & BEML SC/ST Association Bangalore.
• Felicitation from round table conference of the SC/ST OBC & Minorities Promotional Reservation Bill dated 17-3-2013 at Vijay Residency, Gandhinagar, Bangalore.

TV Interview

• Live interview with Artist, Mariyappa Gulejji by host Sri B.A Ashok on “Chandana TV” Channel at 7.00 AM on 17.4.2004 in programme Belagu

Mariyappa Gulejji in his own way is trying to discover a mode of self-expression to renew his contact with reality. Again it is this quality that has accounted for the strangeness and vitality of contemporary trends in Art. The life of the common people as can be seen in―Mathadhipathis‖ of Mariyappa; Spontaneity in depecting from as in Mariyappa‘s figuration.
Art Critic “INDIAN EXPRESS” Newspaper 4th August 1985, Bangalore.

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Artist is intorned by precisely such evangelistic spirit. Mariyappa Gulejji uses flat blocks of colour in his paintings, apart from a water colour temple scape, and in ―self declaration‖, two figures in ochre, blue and brown step out from the framed natural scene. In ―Rewriting history‖, he juxtaposes the expected symbols of oversize quill, ink bottle and female figure. 
“DECCAN HERALD”Newspaper 3rd August 1985, Bangalore.

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Social commitment was the binding theme in the work of artist. Sincerely in search of suitable idiom to express both their concern and aesthetics, most begin from academic realism and some strive towards a solution of their own.

The schoolism basic seems prevalent in the Temple view by Mariyappa Gulejji called ―near my house‖. The gay colours lie separately in undulatory patches of one hue. However, in another similar declaration ―canvasra‖ similar stereotype landscape serues as contrasting back ground for the non-realistically Areated pair of determined looking boys. Their figures highly reduced in details become as though cut out from the rest by the definite white contour.

Elsewhere against a sheet of paper Mariyapppa paints the universalised woman ―Rewriting History‖ with her bloodstained palms and feet. This interpretation of the metaphor may be felt as rather too direct.
“Hindu” Newspaper 9th August 1985

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One of the sketches known as ―Matadhipathi‖ which is exhibited by Mariyappa Gulejji in Venkatappa Art Gallery is filled with the contemporary feeling of frightfulness and also the other sketches presents various separate responses.
B.V.K. Shastri- Art Critic Prajavani Newspaper 4th August 1985 Bangalore

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The international kannada conference which reflects Karnataka‘s Culture and Language through paintings, proverbs, good thoughts which is historical importance was inaugurated by Dr.Thimmegowda in Doddakere Maidan of Mysore on 15th December 1985. Along with some elderly Artists. Mariyappa Gulejji presented his talent and power of imagination through the portrait of Divan Rangacharlu and Sir M. Vishveshwaraiah.
“Kannadaprabha” Newspaper 12th December 1985

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Your creative sketches and paintings made me very happy. You have sketched my portrait very well. I was very happy about it. I wish your all success and best of all in come to you in your field of art and may you serve the country in a more successful manner.
Mallikarjunaiah Deputy Speaker, Loksabha Delhi, 25th November 1992