1935

Born in Kolkata in 1935, Sakti Burman a painter, sculptor and lithographer studied at the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Kolkata, and later at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris. During his time in Paris, Burman was influenced by different Western styles of modern and traditional art forms, one of them being the Italian frescoes. Taking inspiration from his travels and Hindu and European mythology, Burman learnt to assimilate textures with dream-like surrealism. Textures, patterns, and the rhythm of colours were an intrinsic part of his art style, and to get those fresco-like textures or the marbling effect on paper or canvas took Burman years of experimenting with blending oils and acrylics. Sakti Burman’s body of work covers many geographical, historical, and cultural worlds and is renowned for its cultural cosmopolitanism. 

He had showcased his works at the All-India Fine Arts and Craft Society gallery in New Delhi, where he sold two of his works. Back in France his works were still being sold and in London’s Piccadilly Gallery his works were in demand too. Later on, Sakti’s works were even commissioned by an American couple who wanted to turn them into graphic and lithographs prints which became an important medium for his creation.

In 1956 he won the Prix es Estrangers award. He had held several solo shows which include a range of works at the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Victoria Memoria Hall, Kolkata and Dakshina Chitra, Chennai in 2011 and 2012. His works were even showcased at international galleries in New York, London, Los Angeles, at the Rand Palais, Paris in 1975 and at the French Biennales in 1965.