Born in Kolkata into a modest middle-class family, he nurtured a strong passion for art from an early age. In 1955, he enrolled at the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, where his exceptional talent quickly distinguished him from his peers. His artistic promise earned him a prestigious French Government Scholarship, enabling him to pursue further studies at the renowned École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Sunil Das (1939–2015) was one of India’s most influential post-modernist painters, celebrated for his ever-evolving artistic style and emotionally evocative visual language. Even as a student, Das made history—he became the only Indian artist to receive the Lalit Kala Akademie’s National Award while still pursuing his undergraduate studies. He was also honoured with the Shiromani Kala Puraskar, making him the sole Indian recipient of both distinctions during his academic years.
Throughout his career, Sunil Das embraced constant change in his artistic approach. He once remarked, "To prevent myself from producing the same kind of work, I keep altering my vision… to respond to the feelings of people at the grassroots level, and to delve deep into the realities of life around me."
Das gained early acclaim for his charcoal drawings of horses, capturing their raw energy and motion. He estimated having drawn nearly 7,000 horses between 1950 and 1960. His fascination with movement and power extended to other subjects as well—after a trip to Spain in 1962, he began his celebrated Bull Series, inspired by the passion and violence of bullfighting.
Much of his work cantered around themes of man-woman relationships, female solitude, and sensuality, explored with depth and sensitivity. His paintings often feature a subdued palette—soft browns, mauves, and whites—used to amplify emotional tension and narrative drama.
Over the course of his prolific career, Sunil Das held nearly 88 solo exhibitions worldwide, with his work featured on prominent international platforms such as the Paris Biennale. In recognition of his immense contribution to Indian art, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2014, one of the nation’s highest civilian honours.
