Sudhir Patwardhan’s artistic journey is deeply intertwined with the vibrant yet often unforgiving landscape of Mumbai, a city that has shaped his work and consciousness. Patwardhan’s early sketches and paintings emerged from a place of curiosity and introspection. His exposure to the bustling, often overwhelming life in Mumbai brought intense expressionist exploration, reflecting his psychological strain and isolation as a newcomer to the metropolis. Patwardhan’s encounters with the working class significantly influenced his artistic voice. His early work is marked by an expressionist style, capturing his figures’ raw, often turbulent inner worlds. Later, he embraced a more observational style, reflecting a desire to capture nuanced human experience rather than raw emotion alone. His art challenges us to rethink community, urging us to consider how we might nurture connections that honour shared histories and emerging identities.