Ms Gauri Balkrishna Palekar

About Gauri

Prof. Gauri Balkrishna Palekar

Prof. Gauri Balkrishna Palekar is an artist, designer, educator, and watercolor practitioner with over 14 years of professional experience in the design industry, followed by a distinguished career in design education. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and a Master's degree in Indology.

She began her professional journey in the print media and advertising industry, where she worked extensively on logo design, display graphics, book cover design, and illustrations. During her tenure with Mehta Publishing House, she designed numerous book covers and publication graphics. She also specialized in designing premium wedding invitations for clients across India, creating culturally sensitive designs tailored to different religions and regional traditions. In addition, she worked on interior graphics for residential and corporate spaces.

Driven by her passion for nurturing young designers, she transitioned into academics after more than 14 years in the industry. She started teaching at Pahal Coaching Classes, preparing students for design entrance examinations, and later joined Times and Trends Academy, Pune, as an Art and Design Faculty. She was also invited to conduct master classes at Whistling Woods International. Most recently, she served as an Assistant Professor at Avantika University for three years, where she taught foundation and design students while integrating industry practices with artistic exploration.

As an artist, Gauri is deeply inspired by nature, particularly the landscapes of Himachal Pradesh. Watercolor is her preferred medium, complemented by observational sketching. She regularly conducts watercolor workshops and encourages the practice of hand drawing and painting as essential tools for creative thinking.

Her artworks have been selected for prestigious national exhibitions, including those organized by the Bombay Art Society, the Art Society of India, and the V. V. Oak Competition. These recognitions reflect her continued contribution to contemporary Indian art.

She has presented three solo exhibitions:

Thodsa Aasmaan– Shimla Rang Malhar– Ujjain Anubhuti– Avantika University, Ujjain

Together, these exhibitions showcased nearly 60 original watercolor paintings inspired by nature, memory, and landscape.

In recognition of her artistic contribution, she was honoured with the TEPA Samman 2025 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Ujjain.

Through her work as an artist and educator, Prof. Gauri Balkrishna Palekar continues to bridge the worlds of fine art, design practice, and education, inspiring students to value observation, craftsmanship, and creativity.

Achievement & Publications

Expertise