Manish Kumar Rao

Manish Kumar Rao known for meticulously detailed works that blend surrealism with traditional Indian artistic sensibility. He is trained formally at the College of Art, Delhi, earning a B.F.A. in Painting in 1994 and an M.F.A. in Painting in 2002 from Delhi University, alongside diplomas in art appreciation and Indian art and culture from the National Museum, New Delhi.

Rao's canvases conjure dreamlike, imaginative worlds populated by strange architectural forms, metallic beings, and layered narratives, where objects nest within objects and stories unfold within stories. His visual language draws on an eclectic range of influences, from Hieronymus Bosch's fantastical visions to the geometric illusions of M.C. Escher and the surreal landscapes of Salvador Dalí, fused with the intricacy of Indian metalcraft traditions. Drawing on childhood memories, social observation, and subconscious imagery, he has exhibited his work across Delhi, Mumbai, and Singapore, including a series of shows in 2019.