M. Raja
AI Curates, Arts Illustrated
Invoking Nature VIII, Mixed Media on Canvas, 18" x 18", 2017
With over 45 years of practice, M. Raja is a Chennai-based painter and sculptor known for infusing spiritual symbolism into contemporary forms. A graduate of the Madras College of Arts & Crafts, he has exhibited across major platforms including the Indian Art Festival, International Kala Mela and shows in Dubai and the US. His solo shows have been hosted at Lalit Kala Akademi and Gallery G. Raja has received numerous accolades, including the Tamil Nadu State Award (2014), Chennai City Award (2017) by the Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation, and multiple awards from TACIA. His works are held in collections such as Dakshina Chitra and the International Institute of Tamil Studies.
“Invoking Nature VIII draws on the spiritual codes embedded in Indian tradition—bindis, tattoos and ornaments—as more than decor; they are ancestral imprints. rough symbolic forms and layered textures, I depict how these customs connect us to the divine, forming an invisible but powerful bridge between the past and the present.”