Dr. D. S. Chougale is a multifaceted Indian visual artist, playwright, and cultural academic whose creative practice spans visual art, folk theatre, and literary expression. Deeply rooted in Kannada cultural traditions, his work reflects a lifelong engagement with performance, narrative, and visual symbolism.

Alongside his career as a visual artist, Dr Chougale is an acclaimed Kannada playwright and author. He has written over 15 major plays, five short story anthologies, and more than 30 published works, making significant contributions to contemporary Kannada literature and theatre. His writings often draw from folk traditions, social realities, and human psychology, blending classical sensibilities with modern thought.

Dr. Chougale has served as an Ex-Member of the Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy and the Karnataka Nataka Academy, Bengaluru, reflecting his standing within India’s institutional art and theatre ecosystem. His academic engagement includes serving as a Subject Expert Professor in Folk Theatre at Mumbai University and the Department of Theatre, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, where he has influenced generations of students and practitioners.

Internationally, his artistic vision has found resonance through participation in platforms such as the HAN International Art Symposium, Turkey, where his interdisciplinary approach, bridging visual art, theatre, and folk traditions, was widely acknowledged.

Dr. S. Chougale’s practice stands at the intersection of image, performance, and text, making his artistic voice both culturally grounded and globally relevant.

Dr D S Chougale

Visual Artist | Belagavi, Karnataka, India

Available Artworks by Dr D S Chougale