Born in 1912 in Nashik, Maharashtra, artist M S Joshi studied at the Sir J J School of Art in Bombay during the 1930s A significant figure in art education, he was a founding member and later principal of the Model Art Education Society and Institute, established in 1939 in Dadar, Bombay Joshi was also deeply involved in Marathi theatre, directing dramas and contributing to stage settings and costumes

MS Joshi combined his training in academic realism with a sense of vitality, precision, and aesthetics to depict India’s vibrant cityscapes and landscapes in his watercolour and gouache works His art revealed immense depth, capturing people, places, and architectural elements with a subdued yet textured palette

Joshi's works are distinguished by their rich texture and palette, reflecting a unique and individualistic artistic vision His profound visual aesthetics have led to his art being widely collected around the world, with his pieces featured in prestigious museums in the UK, Australia, Japan, and beyond

Between the 1950s and 1970s, Joshi received numerous awards from the Bombay Art Society, Hyderabad Art Society, Mysore Dasara Exhibition, and All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, among others In 1964, he was honoured with the national award from the Lalit Kala Akademi

The artist passed away in 2001