Saraswati Foundation for Arts & Environment

Ajay Kumar Samir is a contemporary Indian artist known for his expressive figuration, refined draftsmanship, and distinctive black‑and‑white works accented with carefully placed color. Born in Garhwal, Uttarakhand in 1970, he later moved to Delhi, where he completed a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Delhi College of Art and emerged as an early awardee of the All India National Award from AIFACS, with works entering important collections such as the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi. Over several decades, he has built a prolific career through solo and group exhibitions at prominent venues and galleries, including spaces like Jahangir Art Gallery and leading private galleries in India, earning him recognition from senior artists such as Satish Gujral and a strong base of collectors in India and abroad.​

Samir’s practice centers on human experience, often using iconic figurative imagery to explore memory, emotion, women’s sensitivity, and the quiet drama of everyday life. He is especially identified with intricate pen‑and‑ink drawings and mixed‑media works on paper, where areas of intense black and white are punctuated by textures and flashes of color to create a play of light and shadow. Over time, he has evolved from pure monochrome to introducing selective reds and other hues, while preserving a lyrical, almost meditative quality in his lines and patterns. Today, as a Delhi‑based freelance artist, his artworks continue to be exhibited widely, featured on major online art platforms, and used as reference points for students and younger artists interested in contemporary Indian figurative art.