A self-taught artist, Manoj Dutta explored traditions of Indian folk art through his works. His admiration for folk artists and their spontaneity is reflected in the immediacy and directness of his work. Dutta’s carefully curated colour palette creates a harmonious balance of depth, texture, and shade. His works are often characterised by their eloquent representations of a singular mood or emotion portrayed through his diverse colour palette and fluent use of line.

Dutta participated in numerous national and international exhibitions in Kolkata, Mumbai, Japan and South Korea. His work is part of the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi and the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata.

“My painting is inspired by contemporary reality. It reflects our hopes and aspirations, life and society, our political and religious preoccupations and everything that happens around us.” – Manoj Dutta

Manoj Dutta is one of those who have risen to the top bracket of Indian contemporary art without receiving any formal training from any school of art.

Dutta’s affinity towards folk tradition is evident through his dynamic colour palette and fluent use of lines. He responds to his immediate reality of city life through pictorial idioms filled with elements from nature that are in synchronicity.