Story: Delhi-based artist Suresh Kumar has long been a familiar and respected presence in the Indian art scene. As someone who has interacted with him closely over the years. He is often seen at art openings and events-always encouraging others, connecting people, and fostering a spirit of collaboration in the art community.

Born in Kaunsiwas, Rewari, Haryana in 1966, Suresh had no artistic lineage to lean on. Yet, from a young age, his passion for creativity was undeniable. Encouraged by his parents, his early sketches-particularly of Lakshmi and Ganesh during Diwali-hinted at a talent that would later blossom into a lifelong vocation. Suresh went on to pursue his BFA and MFA in Sculpture from the College of Art, New Delhi, becoming the first in his family to enter the world of fine arts.

Over the past three decades, Suresh Kumar has participated in numerous national and international exhibitions, solo shows, residencies, and workshops. Even during the pandemic, he remained actively engaged in virtual art projects, demonstrating a rare continuity and resilience. His practice, rooted in sculpture but also embracing painting, addresses complex social and environmental concerns through a contemporary lens.

His sculptural style is bold and symbolic, shaped by keen observation and deep empathy. Themes such as womanhood, nature, and climate change are recurring in his work. The pink marble sculpture Woman with Nature softly captures the feminine spirit through form and flora. In Ichha, a life-size fibreglass piece, he places a book over a man’s face, with a woman above, gazing skyward-symbolising aspiration and transcendence. His Endless Story series poignantly expresses the effects of global warming, with forms that appear to be melting in protest.

One of his most lauded works, Education Power, uses sandstone and black marble to depict a book, face, and horse-serving as a metaphor for knowledge, identity, and progress. Another piece, Abhivyakti, presents a human face with tree-like branches and exposed muscles, reflecting environmental degradation and human vulnerability.

In his artistic journey, Suresh has received numerous prestigious accolades, including the Sahitya Kala Parishad Award, the Bombay Art Society Award, and a research grant from Lalit Kala Akademi. His contribution as an educator is equally noteworthy. Currently the secretary of Nav Siddhartha Art Group, he also holds key positions in multiple organisations, and was honoured with the Educator of the Year Award by the Namaste India Council of Educators in 2022. His teaching philosophy is clear: “If my efforts can benefit someone, I consider it my duty to contribute. A true artist shares.”

Recognising the importance of documenting Suresh Kumar’s rich and reflective body of work, internationally acclaimed filmmaker and photographer Vajranabh Natraaj Maharshi created a compelling documentary capturing the sculptor’s creative essence. Titled The Sculptor, this film is part of Maharshi’s broader vision to archive the lives of Indian artists who shape cultural consciousness through their art.

Maharshi, a multi-talented artist from Vijayawada, is known for his concept-based visual storytelling that often bridges the human and natural world. A self-taught photographer and award-winning filmmaker, he has directed several documentaries on prominent Indian artists and was a voice artist for National Geographic. His emotionally resonant visual language-evident in acclaimed exhibitions like Conflict and Kolleru: The Paradise of Migratory Birds-makes him uniquely equipped to interpret Suresh Kumar’s work.

Currently Creative Director at Wildlife Today and ArtLife Today, Maharshi’s partnership with conservationist Jamuna Tudu and his upcoming biopic My Hardest Goodbye reflect his enduring commitment to stories rooted in empathy, resilience, and human complexity.

Through Maharshi’s lens, Suresh Kumar’s sculptures are given new life on screen-illuminating the sensitivity, depth, and meaning that define his work. In this meeting of two artistic minds, sculpture and cinema come together to celebrate an artist whose vision continues to shape the Indian contemporary art landscape.

Suresh Kumar remains an active, inspiring figure at Garhi Studio, New Delhi-quietly sculpting not just forms, but conversations around life, identity, and the world we inhabit.