Untitled by Shakti Barman

Sakti Burman (b. 1935, Kolkata) is a celebrated Indian-born artist based in Paris, known for his distinctive fusion of Indian mythology and European classical influences. Trained at the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Kolkata and later at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Burman developed a signature style combining pointillism and a marbling technique that lends his works a fresco-like, dreamlike quality.

Inspired by Italian Renaissance masters such as Giotto and Piero della Francesca, Burman’s surreal compositions often feature mythological figures, animals, and whimsical cityscapes, drawing from both Indian and European traditions. His richly textured paintings evoke a sense of timeless storytelling, populated by symbols from Hindu epics and personal memory.

Burman has exhibited extensively worldwide since his first solo show in 1954, with major retrospectives in India and Europe. His technical innovation extends to printmaking, where he collaborated with renowned ateliers also used by Picasso and Chagall. A recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Prix des Etrangers in Paris, he continues to live and work between Paris and New Delhi.