Ashok Hazra, born in 1946 in Midnapore, West Bengal, pursued his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the College of Art, New Delhi.
Now based in Rajasthan, Hazra has earned critical acclaim for his notable ‘Clown’ series. His artistic journey began with the ‘Fantasy’ series, where he sought to give visual form to the dreams and imaginings of his youth. His evolving thematic explorations led him to create works cantered on the deity Ganesh, followed by a series inspired by Lord Krishna, which took shape after a profound visit to Nathdwara. This particular body of work pays homage to the blue-skinned divine figure and showcases Hazra’s deep engagement with Indian spirituality and myth.
Ashok Hazra describes his creative evolution as fluid, embracing change in both form and subject. He maintains that a consistent Indian essence forms the emotional undertone of all his works. Unbound by rigid stylistic constraints or formal schools of thought, Hazra allows his art to be guided by momentary mood, surroundings, and inspiration. He actively experiments with a wide range of media, surfaces, and textures, valuing the artistic freedom this versatility provides.
In his own words, “As I paint, my mind races ahead but the basic elements of composition, colour, texture and space are always foremost in my mind.” His practice spans multiple media, including pencil, watercolour, oils, waterproof inks, and acrylics. Hazra is among the few Indian artists to embrace the demanding technique of watercolour on canvas. His Krishna series, in particular, highlights his use of mixed media, giving each piece a unique personality.
Over the course of his career, Hazra has taken part in numerous solo and group shows as well as notable art camps. His works have been exhibited at Gallerie Ganesh in New Delhi, Wanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand, Sanskriti Arts Gallery in Kolkata, the Jaipur Art Summit (2013), the Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts in New Delhi, and the All India Exhibition at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur.
His artistic excellence has been recognized with multiple awards, including honours from the Rajasthan Lalit Kala Akademi as a senior artist at Kala Mela, the IFAICS Award, and the Bharat Jyoti Award in New Delhi. His artworks are part of respected public and private collections, including those of AIFACS, NCERT, RPSC, Jawahar Kala Kendra, and the Embassy of Finland. Internationally, his works are housed in the Agro Nixt Contemporary Art Museum in Covasna, Romania; ARKS Gallery in London; and various private collections across India and abroad.
