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The Artist:
A Life in Art
There are those who pursue their craft with passion, and then there are those who embody it, who live with it, live by it, and live for it. That is R.K. Gupta, a man devoted to his art, gently refining it with every tool, every opportunity, and every passing moment.
Born in Kasauli in 1957, Gupta was expected to follow the familiar road, his father’s footsteps, the family trade. But something in him leaned away from the ordinary. He couldn’t be boxed in. He wasn’t meant for a life painted in a single shade. He was always meant to follow something higher, something wild and deeply his own.
Among fellow artists, he’s known as the experimental one. The one who took the risk of working with resin and shapes it as if guided by instinct, with results they’ve only seen in the studios of Italian masters.
His work evokes the every sense of India. You see farm life, wide and sunlit. You see grandmothers sitting in a circle, grounding fresh turmeric, sharing stories that smell like warmth. You see values, beauty, happiness, routine. You see memories in colour.
His art doesn’t just hang on a wall, it settles inside you. It reminds you of everything you forgot, you missed.
His work on raw wood leaves people in quiet awe. Because wood is not like canvas. It doesn’t obey. It is unyieldingly raw. It resists, surprises, and lives a life of its own. You can’t control it. And maybe that’s why R.K. Gupta understands it so well, because he, too, is not someone you can define.
He began with only three colours: red, blue, and yellow. That was all. For him, it has never been about the tools or the materials. He creates with what is, and even with what, in the traditional sense, isn’t considered viable.
He finds beauty in what already exists. He believes in turning the simplest things into something you carry in your heart. He is known for creating freedom with his bare hands.
He calls his work “accidental.” Because nothing is planned. He follows feeling and instinct. He takes one chance after another, layering texture on texture, memory on memory. He doesn’t stop. And maybe tomorrow he will wake up and create something no one else has ever thought of.
That is RK Gupta. That is his art. And that is what happens when a soul refuses to live small.
Resident Artists
What they’re saying
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The Shape of Memory
RK Gupta is all about curiosity, depth, and character. His art speaks gently, yet carries the weight of memory and meaning. Each stroke reflects an India experienced through feeling rather than fact- in fleeting moments, quiet corners, and everyday rituals. His work invites you to pause, to feel, to remember. And somewhere within it, there is a part of all of us.
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What is the mission of the RK Gupta Foundation?The RK Gupta Foundation was created to carry on the artistic legacy of RK Gupta. Our core mission is to support and nurture new-age artists, with a special focus on those from tribal regions who may lack access to modern tools and resources. We aim to build a community where artists of all ages and backgrounds can learn, create, and find their unique voice.
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Who is behind the foundation?Aashita Gupta, daughter of the artist RK Gupta, founded the foundation as a heartfelt tribute to her father's work and impact. While Aashita leads the initiative, her father, RK Gupta, is a guiding presence, offering his wisdom and encouragement to the artists we support.
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How does the foundation support artists?We aim to provide practical support by offering access to modern artistic tools and techniques, creating learning opportunities, and providing a platform for artists to grow. The goal is to give artists the encouragement and resources they need to pursue their passion with purpose.
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Can I apply for a grant or support from the foundation?We are currently developing our programs and application processes. Please check back on our website for future announcements regarding grants, workshops, and other support opportunities for artists.
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How can I get involved or donate?The foundation is an opportunity to change lives through art. We welcome support from those who share our vision. Please visit our "Reach Us" page for more information on how you can contribute, partner with us, or make a donation to help honour both art and the artists who give it life.
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What is RK Gupta trying to express through his art?RK Gupta’s art carries quiet stories. It doesn’t try to impress, it simply tries to connect. His work is a way of reaching out, offering moments that feel familiar even without words. In every texture and form, there’s a silent invitation to pause, reflect, and feel.
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What makes RK Gupta’s work stand apart?There is a sincerity in RK Gupta’s approach that feels rare. He doesn’t create with the intention of being liked, he creates to be honest. His work reflects real life in ways that feel personal. Often, people see a piece and feel like they’ve known it before, not because it’s common, but because it carries something they’ve lived or inherited.
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How does his art carry the essence of India?It isn’t in the obvious details, it’s in the feeling. The warmth of shared space, the rhythm of daily life, the sense of belonging that comes from small, quiet things. His art reflects the kind of India that lives in memory. In verandahs, conversations, meals, festivals, and unspoken moments that linger.
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Why does RK Gupta work with old, forgotten wood?Old wood carries time in its grain, a sense of history that can’t be recreated. RK Gupta chooses this material because it already holds stories. He believes art doesn’t always begin on a blank surface, sometimes it begins by listening to what already exists and adding to its voice.
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What does raw mean in his work?To him, raw means real. It means letting things be as they are, without softening their edges. It is about trusting the strength of natural form and emotion. This rawness is what makes his work feel grounded, lasting, and human.
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What does he hope people feel when they experience his art?He hopes it feels personal. That it reminds someone of something they once lived, or someone they once knew. RK Gupta creates with the hope that his work doesn’t just stay in a space, but quietly stays with the person who sees it.
How It All Started
R.K. Gupta is an artist who has spent decades capturing the essence of everyday life and the power of human rituals through his work.
Each of his paintings reflects what it means to be human, revealing moments that are deeply personal yet universally felt. His art often sparks memory and emotion, transporting viewers back to childhood, to family, or to simple shared moments that linger in the heart.
He finds meaning in the ordinary, in the highs and lows, the pauses and movements of life, bringing them to the canvas with honesty and grace.
To honour his journey and share the depth of his work with a wider audience, his daughter Aashita Gupta is establishing a foundation in his name.
It is her way of celebrating his legacy while creating a platform for emerging artists, especially those from tribal communities who are still finding their voice in a fast-changing world.
The foundation aims to support artists of all ages, including children, by giving them space to explore, express, and create from a place of truth. While R.K. Gupta continues his own artistic practice, he will also serve as a mentor, a guiding presence who encourages and nurtures young creators.
This is more than a tribute. It is an opportunity to change lives, to help others follow their passion with purpose, and to celebrate both art and the artists who bring it to life.
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