Birth: 30 April 1937, Kathmandu
Death: 21 July 2021, Kathmandu

King Tribhuvan had for some obscure reason sent his father into exile. This is why Uttam Nepali, accompanying his father, lived and studied in Lucknow, India, along with the rest of the family.

It was in the city of the Nawabs that Nepali developed his taste for all forms of art, including painting and acting. After completing grade ten, he ran from his family home to go to Mumbai for acting classes. Having established a decent network in Mumbai, Nepali was looking forward to starting his career in Bollywood when his family members found him and brought him home.

He also didn’t get his family’s support for his other passion, painting. His businessman father wanted him to follow in his footsteps and let go of his passion for art. Although father was not convinced, Nepali convinced his mother to send him to the College of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow, and later to the prestigious Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy (JJ) School of Art, Mumbai.

In 1959, after completing his studies in India, Nepali came to Kathmandu, which would become his new home and workplace, to launch his career as an artist. He debuted with an exhibition at the Tri-Chandra College.

Nepali is widely hailed for promoting solo exhibitions. Before him, only famed artists organized solo exhibits. Nepali taught his juniors the essence of art at various workshops and encouraged them to organize solo shows.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Nepali made a name for himself by employing modernist forms like expressionism, abstractionism, expressionism, and surrealism, and incorporating traditional Nepali themes, paper, and color. This would define his whole body of art for years to come. He organized 13 solo exhibitions in his lifetime, including in India, Bangladesh, Japan, South Korea, the Soviet Union, and Australia.

King Mahendra was his patron and well-wisher. For the king’s ‘Gau farka’ (Return to the village) campaign, Nepali prepared paintings to encourage people to develop their villages.

Meanwhile, Nepali found time to fulfill his desire to act in a movie. In fact, he made it to the silver screen twice: ‘Aama’ (1964) and ‘Hijo Aaaj Bholi’ (1964). Apart from that, Nepali also published his poem collection—Uttam Nepalika Kavitaharu.

In 2000, he was granted lifetime membership of the Nepal Academy.

A long-time heart patient Nepali died of cardiovascular complications on July 21 at a hospital in Kathmandu. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.