Born in 1961 in Patuli, West Bengal, Chandra Bhattacharjee is a contemporary Indian artist renowned for his meditative, abstract style that bridges the material and spiritual realms. He graduated with First Class First honors from the Indian College of Art and Draftsmanship, Kolkata in 1986, and earned his M.F.A. from Kala Bhavan, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan in 1989. Influenced by his connection to the Santhal tribe in Kolkata, his works often reflect the texture and spirit of rural life, capturing the essence of mud walls and nature’s subtle layers. His paintings, which feature muted yet vibrant colors, use cross-hatching techniques to create depth and convey a sense of both the mundane and the sacred.
Bhattacharjee’s large-scale photographs and landscapes focus on nature’s intricacies, emphasizing that nothing is trivial in his view of the world. Despite facing financial hardship, he pursued his art education while working, with his personal struggles often reflected in the darker themes of his paintings. His works resonate with both the physical and psychological landscapes he explores.