Birendra Pai was born in 1969 in Orissa He initially got a Diploma in Fine Arts, Second World Art and Culture, Bhadrak, Orissa Then he went on to do his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphics from Kalabhavan, Viswabharati University, Santiniketan During his time there he received the Vishwabharati University Merit Scholarship In 1999 he graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Graphics from Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda He has also studied 2D Animation Film Making: Drawing and Painting and worked with UTV, Mumbai Over the years he has been the recipient of several awards In 1992 he got the WA Summer Show Award, Bhubaneswar, Orissa He was honoured with the Lalit Kala Academy Award, Bhubaneswar, Orissa in 1994 and 2001 In the year 1997, he won two awards: 50 years Post Indian Independence Art Award at Bhubaneswar and 11th All India Art Contest & Exhibition South Zone Cultural Centre First prize Professional Category, Nagpur In 2001 he was awarded the Junior Fellowship of the HRD Ministry by the Government of IndiaHis works are recognised for his characteristic use of bold and vivid colours and his nudes are noticeably different from the traditional norm Some of his major solo shows include ‘Mahanadi’ at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in 2016 and Re - Vision at Gallery Espace New Delhi and RLFine Arts, New York in 2009 The artist currently lives and works in Mumbai