Paresh Maity
Paresh Maity (born 1965, Tamluk, West Bengal) is among India’s most significant contemporary artists, celebrated for a vibrant, expressive visual language that spans painting, watercolour, sculpture, photography, and installation. Deeply influenced by the colour, landscape, and cultural traditions of West Bengal, Maity developed an early fascination with drawing from life and nature, which later evolved through formal training—earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, and a Master of Fine Arts from the College of Art, New Delhi, where he graduated at the top of his class.
Over nearly four decades, he has built an exceptionally prolific career with more than eighty solo exhibitions worldwide, continuously expanding his practice from lyrical landscapes to large-scale, dynamic contemporary works that explore light, colour, form, and memory. Among his most monumental achievements is The Indian Odyssey, one of India’s longest murals—approximately 850 feet—installed at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. His works are held in major international and Indian collections, including the British Museum, the Rubin Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Modern Art, affirming his status as a defining figure in modern Indian art.
Style and Themes
Maity’s work is characterized by a bold engagement with light, colour, and atmosphere, traversing diverse landscapes, figures, and emotional terrains in watercolour, oil, acrylic, mixed media, and more. He draws inspiration from nature, travel, culture, and memory, transforming visual experiences into expressive forms that evoke a sense of place and time.
His artistic evolution reflects a move from realistic depictions toward a more expressive and experimental use of colour and composition, exploring emotional resonance as a central theme.
Exhibitions
Over his career, Paresh Maity’s work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions worldwide, including Infinite Light (2022), Vision into Infinity (2017), and Symphony of Silence (2013), among others, with shows at major art fairs and galleries in India and abroad.
His exhibitions survey key phases of his work — from expressive watercolours to large contemporary installations — bringing his evolving artistic voice to both Indian and international audiences.
Enduring Legacy
Paresh Maity’s artistic legacy is reflected in his extensive international exhibitions, inclusion in prestigious collections, and monumental public commissions that have reshaped public art discourse in India. Institutions such as the British Museum, Rubin Museum of Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi hold his works, affirming his global relevance.
His influence extends beyond painting into sculpture, installation, and multimedia, inspiring subsequent generations of artists to explore a fusion of cultural heritage and contemporary practice.
