Early Life & Inspirations

Ever since my childhood in Ranikhet and Almora, I was surrounded by art in its raw and living form.

• My father inspired me through education and theater.

• My mother instilled in me the beauty of folk traditions and crafts.

These influences continue to echo in my paintings.

Education & Milestones

I hold a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Painting from Kumaun University, Nainital.

Over the years, I have presented my art in solo and group exhibitions across India, and represented my country internationally in cultural exchanges.

My first breakthrough work, “Dubta Hua Tehri” (Sinking Tehri), remains a milestone in my journey, as it connected my art deeply with the voice of my land and people.

Artistic Style & Medium

My artistic expression flows through watercolors, acrylics, and mixed media, where abstraction and symbolism create a dialogue between the inner world and the outer reality.

I find inspiration in masters like da Vinci, Picasso, Dalí, Van Gogh, M.F. Husain, and Ganesh Pyne, while philosophy and thinkers such as Kant, Aristotle, and J. Krishnamurti guide the reflective dimension of my work.

Philosophy & Vision

I believe art is not meant only for galleries and walls. It is a living presence—

• a mirror of society,

• a meditation for the mind,

• and a healing for the soul.

Through my independent space, Matrika Art Gallery, I dream of bringing folk roots and contemporary visions together, making art accessible, experiential, and transformative.

My Journey

Every artist’s journey begins somewhere, deeply rooted in their surroundings, family, and lived experiences. My story is no different. I was born and raised in the culturally rich village of Timila, where education and art coexisted in everyday life. My father, a teacher with a profound love for theatre, taught me the importance of dialogue, expression, and discipline. My mother, skilled in folk art and crafts, nurtured my sense of tradition, creativity, and belonging. Very early in life, I realized that art does not only live on canvas—it breathes in every aspect of human existence.

A turning point came when I moved to the cultural town of Almora, which further shaped my creative vision. My formal education began at SSJ Campus, Almora, Kumaun University, Nainital, where I completed my B.F.A. in Painting in 2009 and my M.F.A. in 2011. These years offered me both academic training and the freedom to explore various mediums—watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, and printmaking—while also helping me discover the diverse languages of art.

My artistic vision was guided and nourished by several mentors—Shri Ashutosh Gupta, Dr. Krishna Bairathi, Shri Sunil Kumar Kushwaha, M. Salim, Dr. Shekhar Joshi, Dr. Sonu Dwivedi, Dr. Kailash Bisht, Mohd. Danish, Dr. Yashodhar Mathpal, Shri Neeraj Goswami, and Shri Umesh Verma. Their guidance helped me understand that art is not just about practicing technique, but about expanding vision, sensitivity, and meditation.

Over time, my creative journey found its identity through several series. “Inner Voyage” became a reflection of introspection and self-discovery. “Sanskritik Naad” (Cultural Resonance) sought to capture the echoes of folk memories and traditions. “Target” narrated the stories of human aspirations and struggles, while “Fourth Horizon” (a watercolor series) became an exploration of unseen dimensions of consciousness. With “Surya Sandhan”, I explored the sun as a symbol of life and spiritual awakening. Alongside, “Echoes of Society” brought forth the hidden conflicts and silent truths of our times.

Along this journey, certain individual works also became milestones in my artistic expression. “Dubta Hua Tehri (Sinking Tehri)”, which highlighted the pain of displacement and changing landscapes, gave my art a new direction. “Nanda Raj Jaat”, “Radiance of Energy”, “Invocation of Energy”, “Embrace of Souls”, “Remnants of Fire”, and many others further expanded the depth of my creative exploration.

My journey has been enriched by several solo exhibitions at important platforms: Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi (2011), AIFACS, New Delhi (2015), UMCA, Dehradun (2023), and Almora & Ranikhet (2025). Each of these exhibitions gave me the opportunity to communicate with diverse audiences and bring my roots and ideas to wider recognition. A defining moment came in 2011, when I was part of the India–China Youth Delegation, representing my country in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. This experience was not just an international exposure, but also a way of realizing how local experiences and global sensibilities can enrich each other in art.

My inspirations have always drawn from both artists and thinkers who treated art as philosophy and life. Among artists, Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Vincent van Gogh, M.F. Husain, and Ganesh Pyne deeply inspire me. Among philosophers and thinkers, Kant, Aristotle, Hegel, Bharatmuni, H.S. Sinha, Acharya Prashant, and J. Krishnamurti have shaped my reflective understanding of art. They taught me that art is not merely the creation of beauty, but a dialogue with the deeper questions of life and society.

Today, I see art as a living presence -

• a mirror of society,

• a meditation for the mind,

• and a healing for the soul.

My constant effort is that my paintings should not merely invite the viewer to see, but encourage them to pause, reflect, and connect with their own inner world and cultural roots. For me, every painting is a journey—sometimes of memory, sometimes of silence, and always of discovery.

Art, to me, is the meditation of my life. On my canvas, I attempt to bring forth the silence of nature, the voices of folk traditions, and the deep resonances of spirituality. This practice is my identity, and this is my ongoing journey.