Top Five Indian Male Contemperory Artists

You don’t have to be an art connoisseur, an artist, or even someone remotely interested in the art world to be moved by art. It surrounds us in ways we often don’t realize.

The childhood memory of an oil painting print from a calendar, lovingly framed as home decor.
The surge of energy watching Hrithik Roshan dance.
The nostalgia evoked by M.S. Subbulakshmi’s Suprabhatam.
The new art installation outside an office—you don’t know the artist, but somehow, it spoke to you.

At OMNINSPIRE, we’ve always believed that art, in all its forms, shapes emotions, memories, and even mental well-being. Today, we bring you our top five picks (in no particular order) of next-generation Indian contemporary artists making waves globally while elegantly continuing the legacy of their predecessors.

Thukral and Tagra

Early Life & Education
Jiten Thukral (b. 1976, Jalandhar, Punjab) earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Chandigarh College of Art and a Master of Fine Arts from Delhi College of Art. Sumir Tagra (b. 1979, New Delhi) completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Delhi College of Art and pursued postgraduate studies at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

Art Style
The duo’s multidisciplinary practice spans painting, sculpture, installation, film, and design. They are known for blending traditional Indian motifs with contemporary themes, often addressing globalization, consumer culture, and diasporic experiences. Their work incorporates interactive elements, inviting audience participation.

Notable Shows
Thukral & Tagra have exhibited internationally, including:

Lullaments 2, Kunstverein Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart, Germany (2019)
Bread, Circuses & I, Nature Morte, New Delhi, India (2019)
Arboretum, Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia, USA (2024)

Awards & Recognition
Their innovative approach has garnered several accolades, including:

Creative Minds of the Year, Hello! Hall of Fame, India(2014)
One Show Interactive Award (2005)
OBIE Award, New York, USA(2002)

Website: thukralandtagra.com
Instagram: thukralandtagra

Raghava KK

Early Life & Education
Raghava was born in Bangalore, India, in 1980. Having quit his formal education at the age of 18, Raghava KK is a self-taught artist who began his career as a cartoonist in 1997. His early work delved into themes of identity, gender, and sexuality.

Art Style
Raghava is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, installation, film, and performance. He is known for pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology, often blending the two in interactive, participatory experiences.

Notable Shows
Raghava’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide. He has been featured on CNN’s list of ten fascinating thinkers, authors, and provocateurs.

The Indian Embassy – Rome, Italy(2000)
San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, CA, USA (2005)
‘UTSAHA’-Taj Coromandel– Chennai, India (2006)
Brainwave art at TED2013 in Long Beach(2013)

Awards & Recognition
The Maverick Raghava KK has many awards under his belt including:

Kirkus Book Award for Best of 2011 for his i-pad book named ‘Pop-It’
La Petite Mort (part of The Orgasm Project ), his NFT was acutioned at Sothbey’s for a whopping $94,500!

Website: raghavakkstudio.com
Instagram: raghavaKK

Jayesh Sachdev

Early Life & Education
Born in Pune, India, Jayesh Sachdeva initially pursued commerce but soon realized his passion for creativity. A graphic design diploma fueled his interest, leading him to study Visual Communication Design (Fine Art) at Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore.

Art Style
A master of pop surrealism, he merges traditional Indian art with contemporary elements, using vibrant colors, comic book influences, and augmented reality to explore identity, urban chaos, and existentialism.

Notable Shows
Jayesh’s artwork has been featured in several notable exhibitions, including;

Raja Ravi Verma Re-invented in Pop, Déjà Vu Art Gallery, Jodhpur (2008)
Samsara Art, Kochi Biennale (2017)
Utopian Dystopia, Bikaner House, New Delhi (2024)
Zara X Jayesh collaboration

Awards & Recognition
Founder of Quirk Box, he holds the National Record for India’s largest conceptual artwork and has won:

British Council Young Arts Entrepreneurs India Award
Tiger Translate India Arts Award
Crow Bar Asia Advertising Award
A TEDx speaker, he frequently lectures on art and innovation.

Website: jayeshsachdev.com , thequirkbox.com
Instagram: JayeshSachdev , thequirkbox

Tito Stanley SJ

Early Life & Education
Born in Abu Dhabi in 1994 to parents from Kerala, India, Tito Stanley SJ relocated to Kerala in 2000. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram, in 2019, and a Master’s in Visual Arts from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 2022.

Art Style
Tito’s vibrant and allegorical art reflects his personal experiences, exploring themes of displacement and cultural identity. His works often depict mythical landscapes that symbolize the impact of religion on human consciousness, devoid of human figures and instead representing his inner landscape with various visual symbols.

Notable Shows
His work has been featured in several exhibitions, including:

Student’s Biennale in Kochi (2016)
Relics of a Divine Land, his first solo exhibition at Academy Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram (2020)
Lokame Tharavadu, curated by Bose Krishnamachari in Alappuzha (2021)
Annual exhibitions at the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022)

Awards & Recognition
Tito has received several accolades, including:

PDAF Emerging Artist Kalanand Award (2022)
Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Award (2019)
Shristi AIF Grant (2020)

Website: titostanleysj.com
Instagram: titostanley_official , s.j_tito_stanley , titos_designs

Abhay Sehgal

Early Life & Education
Born in Punjab,India, Abhay Sehgal pursued his passion for art by obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He currently resides in New Delhi, India.

Art Style
Abhay specializes in Surrealism, interpreting Indian culture and psychology through his work. He expresses his ideas via paintings, illustrations, and animations that delve into themes of fear and fantasy. His art often juxtaposes surreal elements within realistic settings, encouraging viewers to explore the relationship between reality and imagination.

Notable Shows
Abhay’s artwork has been featured in several notable exhibitions across the globe, including;

BFA Exhibition, Sullivan Galleries, Chicago IL (2019)
Stories : Narrative Photography, PH21 Gallery, Budapest, Hungary (2021)
NFT Bazl, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi (2022)
“Add to Cart” at Method Kala Ghoda ,Mumbai, India (2023)

Awards & Recognition
At just 27 years old Abhay isn’t just a successful artit but was also able to make his art more accessible through his appreal brand: