Gurcharan Singh, an acclaimed Indian painter born in 1949 in Patiala, India, is known for his remarkable figurative paintings He pursued his studies at the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Chandigarh Singh’s artistic focus revolves around individuals belonging to financially disadvantaged backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on underprivileged and exploited women Notable works in his repertoire include “The Red Light in Black and White” and “Les Miserables”

Throughout his artistic journey, Singh delved into exploring the intricate relationships between various elements that shape our world Notably, his paintings often feature a recurring theme of juxtaposing animals with prostitutes, serving as symbolic representations that expose the primal nature inherent in humanity By doing so, he skillfully investigates the interconnections between animal and human instincts

Gurcharan Singh’s artistic prowess extends beyond his subject matter He has held solo exhibitions in prestigious art galleries located in Chandigarh, New Delhi, Mumbai, Paris, and Canada Renowned for his mastery in figurative painting, Singh portrays everyday people, encompassing men, women, children, and dogs, on a grand scale His captivating works can be found on display at esteemed institutions such as the Lalit Kala Academy in New Delhi, the National Gallery of Art in New Delhi, and India House in Paris

CD Mistry is a renowned artist whose works are an in-depth exploration of the folk art emanating from his native state in his own, distinct style Born in southern Gujarat in 1933, the artist went on to earn a Diploma in Painting followed by a Master’s in Art

Mistry was deeply influenced by temple murals, wall paintings in villages, textiles with paintings and mirror work and the popular depiction of deities These inspirations reflect in his work today, as he uses his own unique style to render these motifs in bright, bold hues He creates stylised landscapes that are combined with traditional Indian motifs and dream-like compositions that lie at the edge of reality

Mistry’s works have earned him several awards including the National Lalit Kala Academy Award, State Lalit Kala Academy Awards and the Gaurav Puraskar Award amongst others His works are part of various permanent collections including the Modern Art Gallery, Air India Collection, Birla Museum, Reliance Industries Collection and others

The artist currently works and lives in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Bikash Bhattacharjee was born in Calcutta in 1940 and studied Fine Arts at the Indian College of Arts and Draughtsmanship, graduating with a diploma in 1963 His interest in the streets of the city of Calcutta, the struggles of the average middle class, the poverty, struggle and violence he witnessed throughout his life shaped his work With his brush, he was able to capture not just large-scale scenes but finer details in a photo-realistic way like no other In later works we can see his surreal inspirations take over with slight distortions appearing in his art Women and the truth of society remained motifs dear to his work through the span of his career, using his paintings as social commentary

Bikash was the recipient of the National Award from the Lalit Kala Akademi in both 1971 and 1972, and later received the Padma Shri His work was also exhibited in solo and group shows nationally and internationally in cities like Yugoslavia, New York, London and Paris

Bikash Bhattacharjee passed away on 18 December 2006

Born in 1967 in Kerala, India, Tom Vattakuzhy completed his BFA in Printmaking from Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, in 1996 and his MFA from the Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University of Baroda, in 1998. He is known for paintings that evoke domestic quietude, memory, and solitude—tracing the emotional contours shaped by migration and the absences it leaves behind. A painter, printmaker, and illustrator, Tom is also recognised for his sensitive illustrations in Malayalam literary publications such as Mathrubhumi and Bhashaposhini, and his work is often lauded for its subtle use of light and atmosphere. His visual language influenced the 2023 film Kaathal–The Core, inspiring its lighting and mood.

He has received several honours, including the AIFACS Award (New Delhi, 1997 and 1998), the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Award (1997), the National Scholarship from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (1996), and the Haren Das Award from the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata (1995).

His recent exhibitions include the solo exhibition Song of the Dusk at Aicon Contemporary, New York (2022), and participation in a group show held at the Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow (2025). He currently lives and works in his hometown, Muvattupuzha, in Kerala.

Suryakant Lokhande was born in Mumbai in 1969 He was passionate about art since his childhood; and so, after completing his secondary schooling, he secured admission at the Sir J J School of Art After graduating he worked with advertising agencies like Lintas and Ogilvy & Mather, where he had the opportunity to learn and understand the link between art and media This experience allowed him to hone his skills, and significantly contributed to his artistic sensibilities

Employing a visual vocabulary that includes elements of pop art and photographic references, the artist ponders on the absurdity of the material world where life is perceived from a superficial vantage point and not a purposeful search for one’s true self Owing to its pop-neon colour compositions, his canvases emanate a sense of vibrancy and give a message about the present times They become a ground for his enticing and coquettish protagonists, often women, to do away with all inhibition and stand unrestrained Projecting confidence and autonomy, these subjects adopted from the real world are undeterred by social conventions and are liberated with a voice of their own

The artist has held several solo and group exhibitions in India and around the world Many of his works can be found in the public domain A prominent piece that was created in collaboration with RPG Art Foundation, called ‘The Camera Man’, was installed outside Mehboob Studios in Bandra has been greatly admired by celebrities and civilians alike

Born in 1978, Meetali Singh obtained MFA Graphic Arts from the MS University of Baroda and later did her BFA Painting from Banaras Hindu University The talented artist has won a National Cultural, Scholarship, HRD, Government of India (2004-06) She has been awarded INLAKS Fine Arts, New Delhi in 2006 apart from Gujarat State Lalit Kala Akademi Award, Ahmedabad (2005); Gold Medal, MS University, Baroda (2004), and Annual Award, Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU in (1999-2002) She has taken part in several important group shows The artist proclaims that she does not belong to any particular school of art, and does not believe in making a statement through art She tries to fathom ‘what I am as an individual’, albeit neither in any particular socio-political context nor in context of my immediate milieu Painting for her is a quest to answer self-posed queries She lives and works in Vadodara