Padmakar Santape was born in the region of Nagpur in Maharashtra in 1960 He was passionate about art since childhood and did his BFA in painting from Chitrakala Mahavidyalaya, Nagpur in 1988 He went on to freelance as a graphic artist after graduation and soon started painting under the guidance of eminent modernist JSwaminathan

Padmakar uses his art as a way of expression and to tell stories He finds creativity in real life and channels his artistic energies to create in a surreal form through his canvas He uses art as a language to communicate with his viewers and share his ideas and perspectives in a visual form

The artist is also known for his vibrant collage works which he makes using transparent sheets of different colours and hues Primarily an abstract artist, Padmakar is deeply inspired by nature, landscapes and textures of mountains, rivers and cityscapes The enigmatic compositions of his paintings reveal a depth that is reflective of the artist’s inner persona and his outlook of the outside world

He held his first exhibition at Taj Hotel, Mumbai where his show was completely sold out and praised by the likes of Tyeb Mehta and Akbar Padamsee

Padmakar Santape has participated in several solo shows at galleries such as Taj Art Gallery and Designscape Gallery, Mumbai with works exhibited at the Bank of America, New Delhi