Born in 1980, Anwar Chitrakar is an artist who belongs to a community of ‘patuas’ or village artists trained in the traditional style of Kalighat pattachitra. Over the years he has evolved as an artist and uses his craft to not only paint traditional themes drawn from the scriptures, but also to comment on the peculiarities of the colonial hangover on society, environmental degradation, AIDS and, more recently, the effect of the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

He has won State and National awards, including the President’s Award and has participated in several exhibitions in India and overseas. His works are part of the collection at the V&A museum in the UK and are also held in private collections.