Mangaluru: Ramdas Kamath Shevgoor, the celebrated portrait artist and scion of the esteemed Shevgoor Fine Arts family, passed away in Manipal at 6:45 AM on Wednesday, 15 January 2025. He was 78 and succumbed to age-related ailments.
A legacy in art
Born into the illustrious Shevgoor family of artists, Ramdas was the son of L. K. Shevgoor, a pioneering graphic designer and portrait artist in Mangaluru. He pursued his passion for art at the JJ School of Art, Mumbai, and later took over the legacy of Shevgoor Fine Arts after his father’s demise in 1966.
Renowned for his mastery of portraiture in oil, Ramdas Shevgoor created thousands of lifelike portraits over a prolific career spanning five decades. His works, known for their precision and ability to capture the essence of his subjects, grace the halls of educational institutions and public spaces across the region, including the Hall of Fame at the World Konkani Centre.
Personal life and family
Ramdas Kamath Shevgoor is survived by his son, Siddarth Shevgoor, and daughter, Deepa Shevgoor. His wife, Sandhya Shevgoor, a noted Konkani short story writer, predeceased him in 2011.
Tributes and last rites
The artist’s death marks the end of an era in the world of art and culture in Mangaluru. Tributes have poured in from the art community, recognising his contributions to preserving and advancing the region’s artistic heritage.
The public can pay their last respects to his mortal remains at his residence, ‘Navadurga,’ Tatau Road, Opposite Sharada Press, Maroli, from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM on Thursday, 16 January 2025.