Om Prakash Sharma b. 1932

Emerging from the generation of artists who expanded the possibilities of abstraction in post-Independence India, Om Prakash Sharma (b. 1932) developed a distinctive artistic practice that bridges modernist experimentation with Indian philosophical and cultural traditions. Born in Bawal, Haryana, Sharma pursued higher studies in Fine Arts and later completed postgraduate studies at Columbia University, New York, in 1966, an experience that broadened his engagement with international modernist ideas while reinforcing his interest in indigenous visual vocabularies.

Sharma’s oeuvre is marked by a sustained exploration of abstraction, symbolism, and colour. During the 1960s and 1970s, he became associated with the Neo-Tantric movement, creating compositions that drew upon geometric structures, spiritual concepts, and meditative forms. At the same time, he engaged with classical Indian aesthetics through his celebrated Ragamala series, translating the emotional and musical essence of ragas into evocative visual compositions. His paintings often balance structure and spontaneity, combining refined formal arrangements with lyrical colour relationships.

Over a career spanning several decades, Sharma has exhibited extensively across India, presenting solo exhibitions at prominent institutions and galleries. His contributions to Indian art were recognized early when he received the Lalit Kala Akademi National Award for Painting in 1969. Through his synthesis of abstraction, spirituality, and cultural memory, Sharma has established a significant place within the narrative of modern Indian art.