For many, life and colours are inseparable, intertwining to create a vibrant tapestry of experience. Him Chatterjee embodies this synergy between life and art. As a distinguished Professor and Chairman of the Department of Visual Arts at Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, he is celebrated for his exceptional mastery with brush and colours. His artistic prowess is such that a blank canvas or a simple piece of paper is transformed into a vivid explosion of colour or a striking sketch with remarkable ease.
Art runs deep in Chatterjee’s veins. His father, Sh Sanat Chatterjee, a renowned artist of the Bengal School, laid a strong foundation in the world of art. While his father’s work often explored mythological and spiritual themes, Him integrates mythology and folklore with the natural world. Born in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, and influenced by his extensive travels as a tourist, trekker and researcher, he has captured the essence of nature through photography, painting and sketching.
Professor Chatterjee’s expertise spans murals, paintings, sketches and drawings. His significant contributions include over 200 murals and artworks installed across India. Notable locations featuring his work include the Varanasi International Airport, Jammu and Goa Airports, the world’s longest outdoor murals at Pragati Maidan Tunnels and Dwarka Express Highway, as well as prominent sites such as the CAG Office in New Delhi, DDU College in Dwarka, SSD College in Rohini and various flyovers and public spaces in Delhi, Manesar, Gurgaon, Shimla and Solan. His portrait work can also be found in the Parliament House, New Delhi.
Chatterjee’s abstract landscapes and pen drawings of historical Indian buildings reflect high artistic quality. His work has been exhibited in renowned galleries and institutions, including the Indian Institute for Advanced Study in Shimla and the Parliament House in New Delhi. His accolades include national and state-level awards such as those from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the International Film Festival in New Delhi in 2014 and the NGO ‘Sanchetna’ in 2009. He received the Himachal Pradesh Shikhar Samman from the Himachal Government in 2017 and the Rashtriya Sawasti Samman at the 23rd International Art Festival in Ujjain, MP in December 2018 for his contributions to Indian contemporary art.
Chatterjee has participated in over 80 national and international seminars and art workshops, showcased his work in more than 70 group shows and held 11 solo exhibitions. His art gallery, Sanat Art Foundation (S.A.F.), is a well-known cultural landmark in Shimla.
