Description :

Keval Krishan Kamra was born in 1953, Fazilka, Punjab. Kamra’s early inspiration came from watching his mother shape terracotta utensils. One of his first formative experiences was assisting her in preparing the clay, a moment that grounded his artistic journey in the tactile traditions of everyday life.

He completed his schooling at Government High School, Fazilka, where his aptitude for art was soon recognized by his drawing teacher who encouraged him to pursue it as a career. He later joined the Government College of Art, Shimla in 1971. During his early years, he got an opportunity to visit Delhi College of Art where he met Dhanraj Bhagat who was the head of Sculpture Department. Recognizing Kamra’s devotion and hunger for learning, Bhagat invited him to his home, where he shared insights into the technicalities of sculpture and recounted his own artistic journey. This formative interaction with Bhagat profoundly shaped Kamra’s trajectory, inspiring him to specialize in sculpture upon completing his foundation course. Later, in 1975, he met Balbir Singh Katt, who enrolled him as a member of the Sculptor Forum of India, an organization founded to mentor and promote young sculptors.

Upon completing his diploma, Kamra joined the Faculty of Fine Arts at MSU Baroda, where he came under the mentorship of Mahendra Pandya and K.G. Subramanian. Their guidance proved instrumental in shaping his artistic practice as a sculptor. During this period of experimentation with diverse mediums and forms, Kamra discovered his distinctive ‘grip and squeeze’ technique, an innovation that laid the foundation for his mature artistic language.

Throughout his career spanning five decades, Kamra has showcased his work in numerous solo and group exhibitions across India, including the National Exhibition of Art at the Lalit Kala Akademi, the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), the Bombay Art Society, Triveni Kala Sangam, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Chandigarh. His sustained presence in these platforms from the late 1970s through the 2000s reflects both the breadth and longevity of his practice. In recognition of his contributions, he received several awards, notably from the Bombay Art Society in 1978, AIFACS in 1992, and the All India Exhibition at the Shimla Museum in 1996.