Artist duo turns studio into a canvas of colour, clay
The colourful and vibrant outfits of women in his native village in Sonepat (Haryana) first drew him to art, while the serene environs and ‘lal mati’ (red soil) of Shantiniketan laid the foundation for her journey as a skilled ceramicist.
Artist couple Pawan Kumar and Anuradha Thakur, now mentors to hundreds of budding artists, run a quaint and deeply artistic studio in Jalandhar—a space that celebrates painting, miniatures, sculpture and ceramics.
Their creative partnership is a union of artistic contrasts—Pawan’s masterful abstracts burst with colour, while Anuradha’s burnt terracotta works are earthy and rooted in the soil she has worked with all her life.
A potter’s wheel hums quietly, vibrant brush strokes dance across canvases and Rabindra Sangeet sets the tone at their first-floor studio in Jalandhar. While the Kashmir conflict shaped the theme of Pawan’s university days, Anuradha’s ceramics and murals continue to reflect the rustic, tree-lined landscapes of West Bengal, where she was trained.
Early inspirations remain central to their lives and art. These influences are present in their work, their choice of studio decor, and even in the background music that fills their creative space.
Pawan Kumar, currently the Head of the Department of Fine Arts at Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, has over 20 years of teaching experience and numerous international exhibitions to his credit. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Jammu University, his artistic journey began early—encouraged by teachers who noticed his childhood habit of sketching with charcoal on village walls. “At our village, ladies used to wear very colourful dresses. As a kid, I’d take pieces of charcoal and draw on the walls. And keep drawing, painting, sketching in my room,” he recalls.
At university, he was commissioned to paint a series on the Kashmir Valley conflict, titled “Saga of Trauma.” Initially a realist, a turning point came when a senior Delhi-based artist questioned him: “There are millions who can paint a realistic tree. But where is your tree? Where is your vision?” This moment, along with exposure to the Progressive Artists Group—Hussain, Raza, Souza, Gaitonde, Tagore, Ganesh Pyne, K.G. Subramanyan, Satish Gujral, and Jigen Chowdhry—profoundly altered his artistic path.
In 2014, Pawan held his first solo exhibition at Times Square Art Gallery, New York, where all artworks were sold out. He is the recipient of the National Award in Painting (2007) and the State Award in Painting (2025) and has participated in numerous group shows internationally. He is currently working on his 2025 series and pursuing a doctorate on Punjab’s miniature Sakha paintings, focusing on Guru Nanak Dev.
Meanwhile, his wife Anuradha Thakur, who holds a Master’s in Ceramic Pottery from Shantiniketan, continues to build on her love for rustic ceramics and terracotta sculptures. Her terracotta murals have gained commercial recognition and can be seen adorning the walls of Police DAV School in Jalandhar.
A teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, Anuradha is also a regular at art exhibitions across the state, Lalit Kala Akademi, and other platforms. Together, the couple’s studio is a warm and soulful tribute to their diverse roots, shared passions, and the enduring power of art.
Jalandhar