Puja Sarkar is an Indian contemporary visual artist, curator,social activist and founder of SMS – A Group of Artists, based in Kolkata, India. Her practice is rooted in autobiographical narratives and feminist thought, transforming everyday feminine objects—lipsticks, handbags, combs, safety pins—into potent symbols of memory, resilience, and social commentary. Educated at the Faculty of Visual Arts, Rabindra Bharati University (B.V.A. 2007, M.F.A. 2009), Sarkar has developed a distinctive visual language that merges surreal form, symbolic metaphor, and environmental consciousness. Working across painting and mixed media, she often incorporates discarded materials—plastic fragments, rusted metal, synthetic flowers—as both medium and message, reflecting on consumer excess and ecological fragility. Through vivid color, layered textures, and symbolic form, Puja Sarkar creates works that transform silence into narrative, the ordinary into the extraordinary, and personal history into universal commentary.

 

Over a career spanning more than 16 years, Puja’s work has been presented in numerous exhibitions worldwide, including Italy, London, the United Kingdom, South Korea, the United States, Japan and Bangladesh, alongside more than 100 national exhibitions and major art fairs.  Her accolades include the 'Creative Excellence Award' from the Circle Foundation for the Arts, France (2025), the 'HER STORY Women Artist Award in New York (2019), and the Junior Fellowship in Painting from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India (2022) for her cultural contribution in society. In 2025, she was honored as a Spotlight Interview Winner Artist by ARTIT, United Kingdom, and invited to the National Painting Camp at the Indian School of Business.
 

An active cultural contributor, she has served as a juror for prestigious art events in India, led educational initiatives, and worked extensively for the socio-cultural upliftment of underprivileged children and women in our society through art. In 2009, she founded SMS – A Group of Artists, (Artistic and Socio-Cultural Organisation) a collective that bridges contemporary art with community engagement. Through her curatorial and social initiatives, she continues to position art as both an act of resistance and a space for healing—bridging personal history with universal human experience. Puja’s works are held in private and institutional collections in India and abroad.

Some of her important participations have been: 

​

In 2025, she received the ‘Creative Excellence’ Award from the Circle Foundation for the Arts, France, and was honored as a ‘Spotlight Interview Winner’ Artist by ARTIT, United Kingdom—recognition that affirmed both the conceptual and emotional depth of her practice on an international level. Recently her works have exhibited in “Collective We” show by RevArt, Richmond, California, USA.. She was also invited to the National Painting Camp by ISB (Indian School of Business), Chandigarh, India in the same year.

 

In 2024, she was invited in international curated show” Interchange” by Florence Art Contemporary Gallery in ITALY and Subjective Art Festival by HUG at Lume Studios, New York, USA. She also participated in international show “Brushing Stigma Away” by ARTIT artist community, London, United Kingdom, and very prestigious international show “Blue Planet Grassroots Global Art Event”, also featured in Blue Planet collective book, podcast and documentary film by Odyssey Global Media, London, United Kingdom. She also participated in series themed exhibition, “THE PAST” “RED”, “THE SKY”, “PAIN AND SORROW”, by Move in Colors, an International Non-Profit Art Association, ITALY. Also She got Special Mention for the “THE PAST” and “RED” Show, MOVE IN COLORS, ITALY, 2024. In 2024, she got Silver Medal Award from 27 ART PPOINT, Jaipur and she got “Best Artwork” Award in an International Women’s Art Award & Exhibition, Organized by ART INDIA GALLERY, New Delhi, India. In 2023, she was invited by the Kerala Lalit Kala Academy for a ‘National Art Residency Program’. In 2022, she was awarded a Junior Fellowship in Painting 2019–2020 by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, New Delhi. In 2021, she participated in the international art show, sponsored and organized by the Daejeon International Arts Exchange Association in KOREA. In 2019, as an Indian Woman Artist, she has won the very prestigious global contest – “HER STORY” - Winner Women Artist, which celebrates the idea of feminism, women's empowerment, and social responsibility around the world, organized and sponsored by SeeMe Gallery, USA.  Her story and works were on digital display in the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, New York, United States. In 2017, she was invited and participated in National Painting Camp, Sponsored & Organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre (Kolkata), at Pobitora, Guwahati, Assam. In 2016, She was invited artist of “Creators Deserve to be Seen" Project” -- The Beauty of Art - Sponsored by SeeMe Gallery at Times Square New York, NY, USA. In 2015, she was the ‘‘The Voice of the Artist '' of SCOPE Art Fair, Sponsored by Scope Art at Miami Beach, FLORIDA, USA. In 2010, she received a prestigious award that was given by Book Art Press, New York, USA. In 2008, she was invited to a prestigious show of artists from Chittagong and Kolkata titled 'Vicinity', which was sponsored and organized by the Assistant High Commission of India in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Her artwork has been featured in various publications nationally and globally. Puja also illustrates for magazines. Her artworks are in several private collections in India and abroad.

Curated Art Events by Puja Sarkar

Puja has been actively working as a curator for more than a decade. She has already curated some significant exhibitions, such as ‘Empathy’ (2020), comprising established Indian contemporary artists; ‘Concave & Convex’ (2021), an international sculpture show; and “Vibrant Hues, Spirited Forms’’ (2023), “Winter Carnival (2025), where she showcased both established and emerging artists. She has conducted numerous talk shows and webinars on visual art practice in India. She is the Founder Director of ‘SMS - A Group of Artists,’ a reputed art and socio-cultural organization that promotes emerging talents and actively participates in social works.

Puja has been frequently invited by various institutions and organizations to be part of the judging committee for selecting emerging talents in the field of visual arts.

Puja lives and works in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

​