ABOUT ME

In my artistic practice, I delve into the exploration of the diverse forms of imagery that inundate our daily lives, delving into the symbolism and metaphors that are intricately woven into them. My creative process often centres around the manipulation of domestic objects and local references, which serve as the common threads in our personal environments. By altering these elements, I seek to challenge the prevailing attitudes, fears, and unspoken societal norms that have shaped both our surroundings and our behaviours within them.

The concept of ‘connection’ holds particular significance in my artistic endeavours. Rather than judging myself for periods of disconnection, I choose to channel my focus into rediscovering that connection with my inner self. In this context, I find it essential to share my methods for re-establishing this connection through the use of forms and images, often created through pastiche. These artistic elements are intricately tied to various cultural, geographical contexts, and attributes, offering me a rich tapestry of environments that continually present new challenges and possibilities for exploration.

George Martin P.J is known for his colour-saturated works, whether they are paintings, drawings, sculptures, or installations. The density of his compositions, the exuberance of his imagination, and the depth of his conceptual framework allude to urban situations. His work has been exhibited and celebrated at museums, institutions, art residencies, and other venues in India and abroad. The first recipient of Art India Magazine’s Promising Artist Award in 2005, George Martin was born in Kerala in 1973. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Sculpture from the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram, in 1998, and his Master’s degree in the same field from the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata, in 2001. In addition to the Promising Artist Award, Martin also won a fellowship from the Sculpture Space Art Residency in New York in 2019, the Vice-Versa Foundation and Shanguyan Museum in China in 2013, the Kashi Visual Art Award in 2005, and received a National Scholarship from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in 2000. In 1995, he received the Highly Commended Award from Lalit Kala Academy, Kerala. He lives and works in New Delhi.

BORN
Angamaly, Kerala, India; in 1973

STATUS
Living and working in New Delhi, India.

EDUCATION 

• Master of Visual Arts (sculpture), Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, India (1999-2001)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (sculpture), College of Fine Arts, Thiruvanthapuram Kerala, India (1994-1998)

SOLO SHOWS 

2019

• So far so good, Sumukha gallery, Bangalore. India

2013

• Empty Envelops, Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi. India

2009

• Objective voice, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi. India

2008

• Cavities, Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi. India

2007

• Lost Article, Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. India

2006

• Footloose of Blue Pencil, Bombay Art Gallery, Mumbai. India.

SCHOLARSHIPS and AWARDS   

2013 

• The Vice–Versa Foundation Fellowship – ShangYuan Museum Art Residency in China

2005

• KAVA-1 Kashi Visual Arts Award
• Promising Artist Award-1, Art India Magazine, Mumbai. and India Habitat Centre, New Delhi . India.

2000

The National Scholarship, Ministry of Tourism And Culture, Government Of India;

1998

• The Bodhi Best Student Award

1995

• Highly Commended Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, Kerala. India

CURATION

 2016

• JUST ABOVE THE HORIZON, 2^nd Pulau Ketam International Art Festival, Malaysia.

2015

• INBOX – 81+ contemporary Indian artists on the dilemma of disposable culture. Shrishti Art  Gallery, Hyderabad, India.
• Today’s silk Road, 2^nd International Invitational Exhibition of Fine Arts, Shaanxyi
• Province Art Museum, Xian, China. Curated Indian section.

 2014 

• Tradition & Transition, Water colors from China & India, Kalakriti Art Gallery,      Hyderabad,India

ART RESIDENCIES, CAMPS & WORK SHOPS

 2024

• International Sculpture Symposium in Bronze & Stone, Uttarayan  Art foundation, Jaspur    Baroda, India.

2019 

• Sculpture Space, Art Residency in Utica, New York.

• National Sculpture Symposium in Bronze Stone, RMZ foundation, Bengaluru, India.

2017 

• Bapu’s Champaran, a Satyagraha centenary celebrational painting workshop organized Bihar museum Patna, India.
• Art camp in Greece, organized by Vihaan Art Foundation, New Delhi.

2016 

• 2^nd International Art Festival, Pulau Ketam, Malayasia.

2015 

• International Sculpture Symposium in Bronze & Stone, Uttarayan  Art foundation, Jaspur – Baroda, India.
•  ShangYuan Museum Art Residency, Beijing, China.
•  Art Chennai-2011, Taj Coromandel, Chennai.

2010 –

• Art Camp in Cambodia, Organized by ITC Group,
• At a mountain trail in Mukteshwar, Organized by W+K ( Wieden+ Kennedy) New Delhi.
• Art Camp in Coorg, Organized by Gallery Serendip, Bangalore.

2009 –

• • • Art Camp in Bali Organized by Rai Foundation New Delhi.
    • Ubud Art Camp, Organized by Art Home, Baroda.
    • Art Chill, Organized by Le-Meridian, Jaipur.
    • Kashmir Cultural Camp, Organized by Foundation B&G and Popular Prakashan.
    • Oberoi Art Camp, Mumbai.

2008 –

• • • Art Camp in Maldives, Organized by Art Invest India Mumbai.
    • Art Camp in Russia, Organized by Creative Urge, Baroda.
    • Art Camp in Shimla, Organized by Snowball, Mumbai.
    • 2007 – Art camp in Spain and Kassel, Organized by Sun Art Gallery, Baroda.
    • Art Camp in Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore, Organized by Sun Art Gallery, Baroda.

2006 –         

• • • National Sculpture Camp, Sumukha Gallery & Baldota       Group, Hampi, Karnataka.
    • National Ceramic Camp, JSW LTD, Jindal Township, Torangallu, Karnataka.
    • Sculpture by the Sea-Bondi 2005, Newington Armory Wharf, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, Australia.

2003 –

• • • Chroma, at Indisk/Norsk kunsten i gatene, Løvstakken, Bergen, Norway.

SELECTED PARTICPATION

 2025 

•   SCULPTURE 2025 (FORMS OF VIEW ) CURATED  BY Rajendra  Tiku  Presents   GALLERY New Delhi.
•  BETWEEN THE STRANDS ,TIME BENDS  AND WARPS, Bikaner house New Delhi.  Celebrating20Years of GALLERY RAGINI New Delhi. Curated by Meena Vary.
•  THE ARK AND OTHER STORIES curated by Zakkir Hussain organized by DRAAVIDIA GALLERY KOCHI.
• ECHOES OF ELEGANCE  Presented by Creative Gallery New Delhi.

2023

• DUSKY PATH OF DREAM / Notes from abstracting the real Curated by Meena Vari organized by RAI Abu Dhabi.
• SANDS OF TIME- II. Curated by Suroopa Chatterjee  presents Kalakrity  Art Gallery Hyderabad ,Telangana .India
• MEASURES OF LUCIDITY  Curated by Jitha Karthikeyan  Organized by Gallerie SplashGurugram (Delhi NCR) India.

2022

•  HOPSCOTCH – Curated by Shristi Sainai,  Organized by Gallery Twenty Seven Kochi .India
• A Moveable Feast Curated by Geetan Batra, Bikaner house New Delhi-presented by Ideographic

• CONSTRUCTING NARRATIVES .Curated by Georgina Maddox organized by Gallery art positive. New Delhi.

2021 

• LOKAME THARAVADU..Curated By Bose Krishnamachari , Organized by Kochi Biennale
• Foundation &Kerala State. India
• PHANTASMAGORIA- curated by Bhavana kakar,organized Gallery latitude 28,New Delhi
• Drawing show – Presents Sumukha gallery, Bangalore.India
• Where did the horses go –presents Kalakrity Art Gallery  Hyderabad ,Telangana .India

 2020

• The signature in the Image, Art Centrix New Delhi.
• The sundry effect: The stories we are …, Curated by Meena Vari , Bikaner house New
• Delhi-presented by Gallery Ragini New delhi.

2019

• Open studio, an object self-defined, – Sculpture Space, UTICA, New York.
• Art Now – 19, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi.

2018

• Art Now – 18, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi.
• Transitional Spaces, Bikaner house, New Delhi – presented by Art Pilgrim Gallery.
• Vishwaroopa – The Form of Universe, Curated By Johny M L, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata, India.

2017

• Art Now – 17, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi.
• Elephant parade – India & London.
• India art fair – 2017, New Delhi.
• VR Art Car Project, VR Mall BENGALURU, India.

2016

• 2^nd International Art Festival, Pulau Ketam, Malayasia.
• Today’s Silk Road, 3^rd International Invitational Exhibition of Fine Arts, Shaanxyi
• Province Art Museum, Xian, China.
• India Art Fair – 2016, New Delhi.
• Opening /Crayon Art Gallery,@ The Claridges Hotel, New Delhi.
• Timeless portrait of love, Khushii, New Delhi. 

2015

• Today’s silk Road, 2^nd International Invitational Exhibition of Fine Arts, Shaanxyi
• Province Art Museum, Xian, China.
• Inbox, Shrishti art Gallery Hyderabad.
• India Art Fair – 2015, New Delhi.

2014

• Contemporary Contingencies’, Gallery O.E.D, Cochin.
• Cross Connections, Gallery Art Positive New Delhi.
• Tradition & Transitions – INDIA + CHINA : (mo:shu/ink:water), Kalakriti Art Gallery, Hyderabad.
• India Art Fair – 2014, New Delhi.

2013

• Canvas for Life, The Oberoi Hotel, Gurgaon.
• India Art Fair – 2013, New Delhi.

2012

• B-70 Art Show, Nehru Center, Mumbai.
• Extending the Line, Vadehara Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• India Art Fair – 2012, New Delhi.
• Fragile-2, 1×1 Gallery, Dubai.
• 3-Tango, Polka Art, New Delhi.

2011

• Continuum, Curated by Bhavana Kakar, Singapore.
• Skin Deep, Curated by Johnny M.L , The Viewing Room, Mumbai.
• Take-2, Arushi Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• Red, Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• Miniscule Marvel, BMB Contemporary Art Space, Mumbai.
• Looking Back to Look Forward,Curated by Sushma Behl, Visual Art Gallery, New Delhi
• The Annual, Latitude 28 Gallery, New Delhi.
• Art Chennai, Represented by Gallery OED, Cochin.
• What Happens in Mukteshwar, Curated by Johnny ML, W+K EXP, New Delhi.
• India Art Summit – 2011, Represented by Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi.

2010

• India Awakens — Under the Banyan Tree, Curated by Dr Alka Pande, Easel Museum, Vienna, Austria.
• About Roundabout, City Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand.
• Creating Commonwealth, Ragini Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• Surviving Sagas, presented by Ashna Gallery, at Visual Art Gallery, IHC, New Delhi.
• Untitled-2010, Art Konsult, New Delhi.
• Snow, Curated by Ranjit Hoskote, Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi, & TAO Art Gallery Mumbai.

2009

• Spectrum India, Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi.
• The Art of India/20 Years of Contemporary Indian Art, Gallery Neumeister/Gallerie Muller & Plate, Munich, Germany.
• Expression, @ Tihar & IGNCA, by Ojas Art, New Delhi.
• Beyond the Form, Presented by Bajaj Capital Art House, Visual Arts Gallery & IHC, New Delhi & Jahangir Art Gallery, Mumbai.
• Resonating Pulse, Represented by Latitude 28, Alliance Franchise de Delhi, New Delhi.
• Mining Minds, Chaithanya Gallery, Cochin.
• Big Dream, Crimson Art Gallery, Bangalore.
• Metamorphosis — Change and Continuity in Indian Contemporary Art, Phyllis, Weston, Annie Bolling Gallery, Cincinnati, USA.
• The Human Animal, Curated by Marta Jakimowicz, Represented by Religare Arts Initiative & Gallery Threshold, New Delhi.
• London Art Fair – 2009, Represented by Grosvenor Vadehara, London.
• Hot Shot, The Viewing Room, Mumbai.

2008

• The Sun Rises in the East — Contemporary Art from India, Galerie Christian Hosp, Tirol, Austria.
• Chaos in Order — Exhibition of Indian Contemporary Art, Lalit Kala Akademi & Indian Embassy in Vietnam.
• Beyond Boundaries, Cork St, London.
• Hong Kong Art Fair – 2008, Represented by Vadehara Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• Keep Drawing, Gallery Espace New Delhi.
• India Art Summit -2008, New Delhi.
• Shifting Terrains/Altered Realities, Shrine Gallery & Empire Art, New Delhi.
• Dubai Art Fair – 2008, Represented by Vadehara Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• Trends & Trivia, An Indian Story, Visual Arts Centre, Hong Kong.
• Millennium Turks, Trident Hilton, Gurgaon.
• Sandwich, Indo-Australian Group Show, Stainless Gallery, New Delhi
• From Surface to Origin: Journeys through Recent Art from India and Thailand, Curated by Brian Curtain, Gallery Soul flower, Bangkok.

2007

• Images/Urban/Neon, 1×1 Gallery, Dubai.
• Object-Making/Unmaking, Vadehara Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• 10 Light Years, Kashi Art Gallery, Cochin.
• 1^st Anniversary Exhibition, Gallery Mirchandani+Steinruecke, Mumbai.

2006

• Real 2006, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
• Rock + Music + Art, Group Show organized by Art Resource, Mumbai.
• Infinite – Us Unbounded, Planet Arts Gallery, Gurgaon.
• Three men show, Vi-Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• Encode – Decode, (Two men show), Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi.
• No Square Circle: Drawings by Sculptors, Rabindra Bhavan, Kolkata and New Delhi.
• Shifting Focus, The Air Gallery, London.

2005

• The Mouse, Global Art Village, Delhi.
• KAVA -1 Award-winners Exhibition, Kashi Art Gallery, Cochin.
• Double-Enders, Curated by Bose Krishnamachari, Jehangir Gallery, Mumbai; Vadehara Art Gallery, New Delhi; Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore and Durbar Hall, Cochin.
• Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2005, Sydney.
• Eternal Recurrence, Hotel Shangri-La, New Delhi.
• 2004
• The Making of India, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.
• Conflicts & Dualities, Nature Morte, New Delhi.

2003

• Migration, City, Home, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata.
• Chroma, Indisk/Norsk Kunst I Gatene, Bergen.

2002

• Chroma, India Habitat Center, New Delhi.

2001

• The State Exhibitions, Lalit Kala Academy, Kerala; (was also selected to show from 1995 to 1997)

2000

• Sculpture 2000, Organised by Gorky Sadan, Kolkata.

1998

• Best of the Year, Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai.