Painting his way to the top, Suvigya Sharma is our cover star for April and also the famed name behind the revival of India’s finest traditional crafts such as ‘Pichwai’ and ‘Tanjore’ paintings. His paintings feature an unmistakable beauty and a real-life appeal that draw you in, into the depths of creativity and wonder.

Suvigya’s enviable list of clientele includes Rani Mukherjee, Kangana Ranaut, Sachin Tendulkar, Dalai Lama and some of the top-notch business families  such as Ambanis, Birlas, Piramals, and Bajajs. He’s won several international awards and most recently, he’s been felicitated by the “Asia book of Records” & the “India book of Records”.

Here’s a glimpse of our conversation with the inspiring force – SUVIGYA SHARMA.

Q: Tell us about your journey & style of paintings.

S: I’ve practiced miniature painting more than 20 years of my life. We’re a lineage, my father, my grandfather have been practicing this art form for almost 80 years. When I grew as an artist, commissioning art for individual business families across the country and the globe, I realized that this traditional art form which is said to be the oldest art form in the world, is on the verge of perishing and taken over by the modern contemporary style of art.

As miniature painting is my passion, I blended the colonial Europe in form of art to the Indian art form and tried to create artworks which fit in the new-age houses of today. My Artworks are highly intricate in terms of the gold gilding, to the anatomy of these Gods and Goddesses and other figures. And the hyper detail of miniature painting fused in, together, has developed into a unique style of painting. So yes, time demanded a modernist twist to miniature art and I created my own style of paintings and Life-like portraits or any prospect of art I’ve taken over these years.

Like I said I grew up in a family full of art, and I never had an inclination for the modern art form. When I even do send modern style of works, I like to do more of meaningful art in those as well. For me, painting is meditation and it gives me a sense of immense peace. 

 I do commissioned art works for the majority of Industrial & celebrity families in India & the world, like: 

• Our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
• Honb. President Shri Ramnath Kovind Sir
• Vice President. Shri Venkaiah Naidu ji
• The Ambani Family
• Mrs Rajshri Birla
• Mr L.N Mittal (London)
• Binanis
• Singhanias
• Burmans
• Piramal family
• Mr Sachin Tendulkar (Cricketer)
• Kangana Ranaut (Actress)
• Justin Bieber(Pop Singer)
• Mr Virat Kohli(Cricketer)

Q: Your fresco painting restoration work at City Palace, Jama Masjid, and Singapore Art Museum had created waves. Tell us about your experience working on the same.

S: India is a country rich in heritages & monuments which have been preserved really well in the last 5000 years. I am a certified Restaurateur of Wall art and I have been lucky enough over these years to receive the best restoration jobs in India and abroad. May it be The City Palace of Jaipur or Udaipur, or the Singapore Art Museum in Singapore, which definitely was one of my most creative fresco projects, over these years. And I like these challenges of creating the same benchmark, which was there 5000 years ago and restoring it to the same caliber is a challenge every time. So it’s rather interesting.

Q: How was your experience meeting the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi?

S: I have adored Modiji for being a visionary and taking our country towards becoming a global super power through his vision. The whole country loves him and I could only express my gratitude towards him through my love- my art.”

The life-size portrait is a detailed (3.5 ft x 3 ft) hyperreal miniature painting with oil on canvas, bears a calm expression on the PM’s face, portraying him as a visionary. It was a proud moment when Modiji explicitly expressed how much he loved the painting. I was truly heartened when he mentioned that the painting will be placed in his own cabin at his office.

Q: A word of advice for the upcoming artists on how to establish themselves in the industry and find new clients?

S: Every artist has his own individuality and I believe that there is a prospective buyer for every style and every budget of art. I have been blessed enough to meet the best art collectors in the country and abroad and they simply love the kind of art that I do. In today’s time, there are so many platforms of art that you have – both budgeted and premium ones.

Also, at the same time, so many platforms are there to showcase over virtual art galleries to art fairs. I believe that there’s a kind of art for every one. So in today’s time, there is a lot happening in the world of art. A combination of focus & the right prospective make a successful artist.

Extended thanks to:

Hermosa Design Studio, for the beautiful location.

Cityvibes, for offering the gorgeous outfit.

Mitesh Punjabi, for photography & videography.