ABOUT THE ARTIST
K.G. Subramanyan’s artistic oeuvre reflects the synthesized modernism in post-independence India,
that was devised to accommodate the varied Indian artistic aesthetics and history as a continuation of
cultural pursuits.
His engagement with the traditional forms and materials, rooted in the country’s psyche, steered a
liberated generation of artists, in reconfiguring a more cohesive identity of Indian modernism.
Through his work, the modern Indian art scene witnessed exploration of mediums in painting, printmaking
sculpture, and design techniques; terracotta, glass and painted murals; mixed media masks, toys, and
so on, which underlines his integrity and respect towards indigenous spontaneity in art-making.
In 1951, K.G. Subramanyan joined the Faculty of Fine Art in M.S. University, Baroda as a lecturer.
It was here that he delved into the pedagogue in him. His devoted involvement with the students,
the curriculum of the institution
enabled him to advocate the art
education methods that were more
relevant to the changing demands of
the nature of modernity in India, which
was essentially built from his tutelage in
Santiniketan.
K.G. Subramanyan was greatly
influenced by folk art from Kerala,
Kalighat painting and Pattachitra from
Bengal and Odisha, as well as Indian
court paintings.
K.G. Subramanyan was made Professor
Emeritus of Visva Bharati in 1898, the
same year when he retired. He was
awarded the Padma Shri in 1975,
Padma Bhushan in 2006, and Padma
Vibhushan in 2012 by the Government
of India, among many other prestigious
awards and honorary positions from
across the country
