Desmond Lazaro

Desmond Lazaro, originally from Leeds, UK, spent over 15 years training as a Picchvai and miniature painter in Jaipur, Rajasthan. While his recent work departs from traditional subject matter, it still reflects his mastery of traditional techniques, materials, and symbolism.

In his new works, Lazaro employs the same meticulous preparation of materials, such as cloth, paper, brushes, and pigments, as he did in his traditional work. However, the imagery and context have shifted from sacred to secular. Rusting cars and modern debris are suspended in miniature format, bringing modernity to life. Lazaro's personal narrative blends the psychological portraits of people and animals from Moghul miniature paintings with memories of the industrial urban landscape of his childhood. Through this fusion, ordinary and everyday things are elevated and transformed into works of art.