Arpita Singh, Painter
Painter

Arpita Singh

Born 1 January 1937 · Delhi

Created vibrant figurative paintings blending storytelling and modernist aesthetics in Indian contemporary art.

Arpita Singh is an Indian artist. Known to be a figurative artist and a modernist, she made her canvases to have both a story line and a carnival of images arranged in a curiously subversive manner. Her artistic approach can be described as an expedition without destination. Her work reflects her background.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Arpita Singh’s early work as a textile designer at the Weaver’s Service Centre in New Delhi deeply influenced her use of color and pattern, blending traditional Indian textile aesthetics into her modernist paintings.

The Story

1
🎨 In 1959, Arpita Singh graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts from Delhi Polytechnic, setting the stage for her unique blend of textile design and figurative painting.
2
👩‍🎨 From 1962, she married fellow artist Paramjit Singh and later raised their daughter Anjum Singh, who also became an artist, creating a family legacy in Indian contemporary art.
3🖼️ In 1972, Singh's first solo exhibition at Kunika Chemould Gallery, New Delhi, introduced her surrealist landscapes and narrative style to the public eye.
4Between 1982 and 1993, Singh exhibited internationally at venues like the Royal Academy of Arts, London, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, expanding her artistic reach beyond India.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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National Award by the Lalit Kala Akademi

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 2011, Arpita Singh was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, recognizing her contributions to the arts at age 74.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Arpita Singh receiving the Lalit Kala Akademi fellowship in New Delhi from Shri K.K. Chakravarty (2014).
Arpita Singh receiving the Lalit Kala Akademi fellowship in New Delhi from Shri K.K. Chakravarty (2014).
2014

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Baranagar, Bengal Presidency
Arpita Singh was born in Baranagar, Bengal Presidency, now in West Bengal, then part of British India.
1937
🌟
Other
Family moves to Delhi
Singh moved with her mother and brother to Delhi, a year before India’s independence, marking a major geographic and cultural shift.
1946
📚
Education
Diploma in Fine Arts from Delhi Polytechnic
She graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts, starting her formal art education in New Delhi.
1959
🌟
Other
Marriage and artist collective formation
Married Paramjit Singh and co-founded the artist group 'The Unknown', holding a first group show in New Delhi.
1962
⚡
Career
First solo exhibition
Held her first solo exhibition at Kunika Chemould Gallery, New Delhi, debuting her distinctive narrative style.
1972
⚡
Career
Exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts, London
Showcased her work internationally, marking her entry into the global art scene.
1982
⚡
Career
Exhibited at Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Presented her work in Australia, expanding her international exhibitions.
1993
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Received one of India's highest civilian honors for her contributions to the arts.
2011
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🗝️Discoveries

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01 / 05
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Singh’s 1993 painting 'My Mother' juxtaposes an elderly woman against chaotic scenes from the Babri Masjid riots, blending personal memory with national history.

02 / 05
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

She was a founding member of the artist collective 'The Unknown' in 1962, which held its first exhibition at IENS Building, New Delhi, showcasing emerging Indian modernists.

03 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Arpita Singh’s exhibition 'Tying Down' (2017) at Talwar Gallery featured a rare period of her abstract explorations from the 1970s, a departure from her usual narrative style.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Indian contemporary artist Arpita Singh 1937
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Indian contemporary artist Arpita Singh 1937
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Indian contemporary artist Arpita Singh 1937
Arpita Singh
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Arpita Singh

🌱 What changed because of them

Arpita Singh helped revive narrative painting in modern India by integrating folk art traditions with contemporary themes, inspiring generations of women artists to explore personal and political subjects in their work. Her involvement with artists' groups like 'The Unknown' and collaborative exhibitions broadened the platform for female voices in Indian art. Institutions such as the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art have showcased her work, cementing her impact on the Indian art scene and beyond.

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