Sanatan Dinda (born February 5, 1971) is a distinguished Indian visual artist from Kolkata, known for his remarkable contributions to both painting and sculpture. He holds the rare honour of being the first Indian artist to have a commissioned portrait of Mother Teresa displayed at Buckingham Palace.
Growing up in the vibrant yet harsh surroundings of Kumartuli—a historic neighbourhood in North Kolkata renowned for its traditional idol-making—Sanatan drew early inspiration from the everyday contrasts of beauty and decay. The narrow lanes, sacred riversides, and the artistry embedded in the local craft shaped his aesthetic vision.Despite growing up in poverty, Sanatan firmly believed that art could surpass limitations and reflect a sense of timelessness.
He completed his graduation in Western Painting from the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, in 1992. Since then, his work has become a vital expression of contemporary Bengali visual culture, where tradition and modernity are engaged in a powerful dialogue. Through both his sculptures and paintings, he explores the human form with lyrical grace, often celebrating the sensuality and rawness of the body.
In recent years, Dinda has been especially focused on recontextualizing traditional clay-sculpting, particularly the popular local representations of Mother-goddesses, as a valid and vibrant form of modern installation art.
Sanatan continues to play a key role in Durga Puja celebrations in his locality, creating iconic installations that have earned him numerous accolades. His artwork is held in prestigious private collections, including those of Sachin Tendulkar, Amjad Ali Khan, RPG Enterprises, Reliance Industries, and Ballarpur Industries Limited. Admirers of his work span across fields—from Sanjiv and Harsh Goenka, Tina and Anil Ambani, Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan, to Jyoti Vikram Thapar and Amitabh Bachchan.
His exhibitions have been highly praised both in India and internationally. One of his prominent solo exhibitions, held at Hyatt Regency, Kolkata in January 2010, was inaugurated by Amjad Ali Khan.
In 2022, Sanatan Dinda further cemented his global reputation by winning the World Bodypainting Festival, a testament to his versatility and evolving creative expression.
