K.G. Subramanyan, born in 1924, Kerala. After his initial degree in economics, he went to study Art at Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan under the tutelage of Nandalal Bose, Ram Kinkar Baij and Benode Behari Mukherjee. In 1955, he studied at Slade School of Art, UK with a fellowship from British Council and in 1966, he was honoured with J D Rockefeller Fellow for a year in New York.
He was a versatile and prolific artist, writer, scholar, teacher and art historian and his art practice ranged in several mediums. He also played a critical role in revival of Indian traditional crafts which he used and adapted it extensively in his practice and also employed the crafts techniques as part of his pedagogical practice.
His works have been widely shown both nationally and internationally. His works were part of prestigious exhibitions and are in well-known collections in India and abroad.
Apart from his art practice and as an academician, he donned several other roles as design and craft consultant and advisor of various art, design, craft and cultural institutions and organisations, travelled and lectured at different universities abroad.
He has been honoured with Padma Shri by Government of India in 1975, Kalidas Samman in 1981, Aban-Gagan Puraskar in 1991, Visiting Fellowship, was part of many international craft delegation to and honorary Doctorates from Indian varsities such as Rabindra Bharati University and Benares Hindu University.
