Kalidas Karmakar was an internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi artist, renowned for his pioneering contributions to contemporary art. Born on 10 January 1946 in Faridpur, Bangladesh, he began his art education at the College of Arts and Crafts in Dhaka (now the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka). He later earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Government College of Fine Arts and Crafts in Kolkata in 1969. His artistic journey took him across the world, where he refined his craft through studies and work in India, Poland, France, the United States, and Japan.
Karmakar played a transformative role in Bangladesh’s art scene, introducing mixed media, environmental art, installation art, and performance art—genres that were previously unexplored in the country. He also brought innovation to studio-based printmaking, incorporating new ideas and techniques that influenced generations of artists.
In 1976, he became one of the first Bangladeshi artists to hold a solo exhibition in Washington, D.C. Over the decades, he presented seventy solo shows worldwide, including in the USA, UK, France, Poland, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India. His works are preserved in several museums and galleries worlwide.
Throughout his career, Karmakar received numerous accolades, including the Sultan Padak (2014) and the Shilpakala Padak (2016). He was also honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Bangladesh People’s Theatre (2017), the Special Painting Award from the Asia-Pacific Museum in Poland (1978), the Best Print Award at the International Biennale de L’Estampe in France (1984), and the Purchase Award from the Fukuoka Art Museum in Japan (1985), among others. In recognition of his contributions to art, the Government of Bangladesh awarded him the prestigious Ekushey Padak in 2018.
On 10 October 2019, Kalidas Karmakar passed away, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire and shape the artistic landscape of Bangladesh and beyond.
