Pankaj Saroj

Born in 1979 in Mathura, this contemporary landscape painter is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the Government College of Art, Chandigarh. With more than twenty years of teaching and artistic practice, the artist has developed a strong and consistent visual language rooted in an intense engagement with nature.

Formal training in fine arts began at the College of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow, where both Graduation and Post-Graduation were completed by 2002. Since the early years of practice, landscape has remained the primary subject, offering endless possibilities for exploration and expression. While other themes have also been explored with equal enthusiasm, landscapes remain the most compelling, often rendered with meticulous detail and, at times, distilled into a minimalist approach that emphasizes mood and space.

A deep fascination with nature originates from childhood experiences spent in Solan, surrounded by mountains, valleys, and ever-changing skies. These early impressions left a lasting influence and continue to inform the emotional depth of the work. Extensive travel across regions such as Leh, Manali, Shimla, and Kinnaur has further enriched the visual vocabulary, contributing to a nuanced understanding of terrain, light, and atmosphere. Each painting seeks to go beyond surface depiction, aiming instead to convey an enduring sense of calm, reflection, and inner bliss.

The artist has participated in numerous prestigious exhibitions, including those organized by AIFACS and the State Lalit Kala Akademies of Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Punjab, as well as several All India Art Exhibitions held across major Indian cities. Ten solo exhibitions have been held at prominent venues such as Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, and Lalit Kala Akademi galleries nationwide, along with participation in over fifty group shows.

Recognition includes multiple awards, a Junior Fellowship from the Ministry of HRD, and a Merit Scholarship. Based in Chandigarh, the practice continues with an unwavering dedication to exploring landscapes in their wild, untamed, and poetic forms.