Keshav Malik was an Indian poet, art critic, scholar, and curator. Known for his work as an art critic for The Hindustan Times (1960–1972) and The Times of India (1975–2000), he made significant contributions to literature and art criticism in India. He published 18 volumes of poetry, including The Lake Surface and Other Poems and Storm Warning, and edited six anthologies of English translations of Indian poetry.

Malik co-founded the Poetry Society of India and served as president of the Poetry Club of India. He was also an advisor to the National Gallery of Modern Art and an executive board member of the Lalit Kala Akademi. His curatorial work included the 1973–74 exhibition The Human Condition, which toured Europe, and he remained a prominent figure in India’s art scene throughout his career.

In recognition of his contributions to literature, Malik was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991. He also wrote Attars of Existence, focusing on the abstract works of artist Sudip Roy, and was the subject of two documentaries. Malik’s legacy includes his influence on Indian poetry, art criticism, and modern art exhibitions. He passed away in New Delhi in 2014 at the age of 89, survived by his wife, Usha.

Dr. Alka Pande is a renowned Indian art historian, curator, and author with a focus on gender identity, sexuality, and traditional arts. She has taught Indian Arts and Aesthetics at Panjab University for over a decade and has conducted postdoctoral research in critical art theory at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her contributions to the field have earned her numerous accolades, including the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2006, the Australian-India Council Special Award in 2009, and the L’Oreal Paris Femina Women under Design and Arts Award in 2015. In 2023, she received the CIMA Lifetime Achievement Award for her significant role in promoting Indian art.

Dr. Pande is the artistic director of Habitat Photosphere, a photography biennale at India Habitat Centre, and has curated numerous notable exhibitions both in India and internationally. Some of her key exhibitions include The Tree from the Seed at the Henie-Onstad Art Centre in Oslo, India Awakens Under the Banyan Tree at the Essl Museum in Vienna, and The Kama Sutra: Spirituality and Eroticism in Indian Art at the Pinacotheque, Paris. She has also been involved with the Bihar Museum Biennale and has contributed significantly to the documentation of India’s cultural heritage.

A prolific author, Dr. Pande has written and edited several influential books on Indian art and culture, such as Body Sutra (2019), Shringara (2011), and Kama Sutra – The Quest for Love (2008). She is also a curator at the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Georgina Maddox is a Delhi-based journalist, creative writer, visual artist, and activist with over 18 years of experience in Indian art and culture. She covers art for publications such as STIR World, MASH Take on Art, Art India, The Hindu, The Indian Express, and Outlook magazine. Maddox is also a regular contributor to Architectural Digest and has written extensively on immersive art. As a curator, she has worked with artists like Sunil Padwal, Shilpa Gupta, and Saba Hasan, and penned catalog essays for their exhibitions.

In addition to her writing and curatorial work, Maddox has co-produced two short films: Bombay Longing with Shalini Kantaya and No Fixed Address with artist Tejal Shah. Her essay “Challenging the Hetero-norm in Art,” exploring the works of Bhupen Khakhar and Amrita Sher-Gil, was published in The Phobic and the Erotic: The Politics of Sexualities in Contemporary India, edited by Brinda Bose and Subhabrata Bhattacharyya.

Maddox’s activism is also a significant part of her identity. She actively supports queer, women’s, and minority rights, often participating in protests. Her work extends beyond art into fiction, with ongoing writing projects. Passionate about fostering queer expression, she is devoted to Scripts, a zine by LBT women, which encourages creative contributions from the queer community.

Dr. Vandana Shukla is a prominent art historian, educator, and curator known for her contributions to the field of contemporary Indian art. With a PhD in Art History, she specializes in the intersection of traditional and modern art practices in India, with a particular focus on the evolution of visual culture. Dr. Shukla has been an influential voice in promoting contemporary Indian art both within India and internationally.

Her scholarly work explores the role of art in societal transformation and cultural exchange. As a curator, she has organized several significant exhibitions, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists. Dr. Shukla’s expertise extends to art criticism, and she has contributed extensively to leading art journals and publications, highlighting the diversity of contemporary art practices.

In addition to her curatorial and research endeavors, Dr. Shukla is an active educator, imparting her knowledge to the next generation of art historians and curators. Her academic and curatorial work seeks to bridge the gap between historical traditions and contemporary artistic expressions, fostering a deeper understanding of Indian art’s evolving narrative.

Dr. Shukla’s contributions continue to inspire and shape the discourse around art in India, making her a key figure in the country’s artistic and academic communities.