In 1951, after the completion of his masters degree, Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni started his career in High Commission of India in London. He returned to India in 1953 and lectured in English in Bombay till 1956. He has had the brief stint as a copywriter in Shilpi Advertising. He served as a Assistant Editor in Free Press Journal (1959 to 1961) and Financial Express (1961 to 1968).
Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni is the only art critic in India who wrote art criticism since the days when modern art was yet to arrive in India in its true sense. He is writing reviews on art since 1947 and has celebrated 50 years as art critic in 1996. He wrote reviews for almost all leading news papers in Mumbai including Forum Weekly, Times of India, Indian Post, Independent, Observer, Free Press Journal, Maharashtra Times etc. In his 50th year as an art critic, grand exhibition was arranged in his honour. He instituted 13 prizes of Rs. 5000 each named after distinguished art personalities and awarded to promising young artists.
His contribution to the art field is recognized by French Government also and he was awarded “Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres” in 1986. His fame as an art critic also reached to London and he was awarded “Plaque” by Mayoress of Waltham Forest, London in 1994.
Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni was honoured by Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai as “Best Art Critic in the Country”
During the Henry Moore centenary, he was invited by British Government to England to supervise the Preparations. Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni traveled around the globe and visited Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Italy, Dubai, Nairobi, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Japan, Hong Kong etc. He has served as President of “Artist Centre” and “Bombay Art Society”..
He has had the several awards to his name, such as Lalit Magazine Prize for Marathi Short Story collection - “Chidghosh”, Keshvrao Kothawade Prize for Marathi Short story collection - “Prasthaan”, and four awards for drama criticism.
He has written several Books in Marathi. The List include “Picasso”, “Husain”, “Progressive Artist Group”, Four short story collections, five novels, one travelogue illustrated with his own drawings, three books of criticism and Book on Hitchcock.

Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni’s Books written in English are “Balgandharva and Marathi Theatre, “Gaitonde”, “D.D.Dalal – a brush with Beauty”

At present, old age hardly permits Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni to attend any function or art event.
Address : Amar Bhuvan, French Bridge, Mumbai- 400 007