Valay Shende

Valay Shende (b. 15 September 1980, Nagpur, Maharashtra) is a leading contemporary Indian sculptor, video artist, and multimedia creator whose work powerfully interrogates the social, economic, and cultural realities of urban life. Shende grew up in Nagpur before moving to Mumbai to study sculpture at the prestigious Sir J.J. School of Art, where he earned his BFA in Sculpture in 2004 after completing a diploma in art teaching. His artistic development was further enriched by a residency at the Open Air Programme, Point Éphémère in Paris in 2006.

Shende’s practice spans large-scale sculptures, installations, video, and mixed media, all rooted in a keen observation of contemporary society—particularly the stark contrasts between modern industrial life and traditional cultural narratives. His sculptures are often constructed from innovative materials including hundreds of stainless steel discs, pocket watches, copper-plated fiberglass, and other unconventional components, creating works that resonate with both formal brilliance and deep symbolic meaning.

Many of his best-known works foreground figures and everyday icons of urban India—dabbawalas, commuters, scooters, cattle, and guards—elevating them into monumental presences that reflect migration, labour, resilience, and social tension. His sculptural narratives often carry powerful critique and empathetic insight into labour, identity, and the human condition in a rapidly changing world.

Shende’s work has been exhibited internationally in solo and group exhibitions at venues including the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum (Mumbai), Kashya Hildebrand (Zurich), Opera Gallery (Paris and Miami), and in major institutional group shows such as Indian Highway at MAXXI (Rome) and the Tate Modern (London). His practice also incorporates video components that expand the boundaries of traditional sculpture into multidimensional installations.

Recognized for both technical mastery and narrative depth, Shende’s work is held in prestigious private and public collections worldwide and has been featured in notable international art forums, reflecting his status as a vital voice in contemporary art. His sculptural approach—melding reflective surfaces with socially engaged content—invites viewers to confront not only the world around them but also the structures that shape modern life.