Jagadish Chinthala

In 1956, Jagadish Chinthala was born in Hyderabad, India. Even as a young child, he was passionate about drawing, but it wasn’t until he started making puppets for a children’s theater group in his early years of trying to support himself as an independent artist that he became aware of the use of paper. These early works of papier mache gave rise to busts, masks, and life-size figures that reflected the artist’s perceptive view of the outside world and the frailty of human nature. Inspired by toys, friends, and events from his early years in India, each item takes on a distinct identity that is gradually revealed by the wearer’s posture, usage of hands, and facial expressions. Jagdish’s works have a broad appeal because of his ability to express intimate human feeling while also making loving social commentary and compelling dramatic narratives.