Valay was born in Nagpur in 1980 He received his Diploma in Art Teaching in Nagpur in 2000 and then his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in sculpture from the Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai in 2004 In 2006 he completed his artist residency at the Open Air Program, Point Ephemere, Paris His works attempt to question the maladies affecting urban society and humans today He wants the viewer to reflect on issues which are plaguing all men today Shende’s solo exhibitions include Valay Shende:Indian Encounters at Galerie Kashya Hildebrand, Zurich in 2009 and Recent Workds by Valay Shende a Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai in the same year He has also been part of numerous group shows such as Still Moving Image at the Devi Art Foundation, Gurgaon in 2008, New Narratives: Contemporary art from India at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick, 2007-2008 Amongst his honours are the 2004 KK Hebbar Foundation Award, First Prize at the India Sabka Festival, Mumbai, 2002 and the Best Sculpture Award from the All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society, New Delhi in 2002 Valay lives and works in Mumbai