India, a land rich in cultural diversity, is home to a vibrant community of LGBT artists whose creative expressions testify to human identity’s resilience, creativity, and diversity. Through mediums such as visual arts, literature, music, and performing arts, these artists navigate and challenge societal norms, advocating for acceptance, visibility, and equality for the LGBTQ+ community. Their works reflect personal narratives and contribute to the broader discourse on gender, sexuality, and human rights in India, fostering dialogue and understanding in a society undergoing profound social change. Let’s look at 11 LGBTQIA artists of India, from the seasoned lot to Gen Z.
Bhupen Khakhar
In 1981 artist Bhupen Khakhar displayed his painting ‘You Can’t Please All’ in New Delhi. It was later hailed as a definitive show — not just for the artist or for Indian art, but for Indian society at large. Khakhar came out as gay to the public in this exhibition, which was praised for its art that moved away from symbolic and abstract imagery towards contemporary and personal subjects. Today, that same painting hangs at the Tate Gallery in the UK. Bhupen Khakhar‘s often openly homosexual themes in his art were startling, as LGBTQIA rights and identity and expression had barely gathered any mainstream notice in this era. Two decades into the 21st century, one may be surprised that being openly out of the closet as an artist is still a taboo.
Sunil Gupta
Indian-born Canadian photographer, Sunil Gupta, has made an iconic career out of “making work responding to the injustices suffered by gay men across the globe, himself included”. His photos traverse themes of sexual identity, migration, race and family, and his collections have been shown at prestigious locations like the Tate and MoMA. According to The New Yorker, “Whether shooting couples in Britain or covert queer life in India, the photographer has found fine distinctions of identity”.
Kalki Subramaniam
Touted as India’s first-ever transgender artist, Kalki Subramaniam — besides being a visual artist — also runs the Sahodari Foundation, a pioneer organisation in India working on social empowerment of the transgender community, raising funds for their empowerment via art. Her visual art mostly comprises portraits awash with rainbow colours, featuring figurative art meshing with pop art.
Uttam Chitrakar
Born in 1991, Uttam Chitrakar hails from West Bengal’s Midnapore. He is known for revolutionising the street-side pat paintings of Kalighat by introducing queer and transgender elements into traditional art. From the depiction of Hindu gods to mythological characters, Kalighat paintings also reflect a variety of subjects, including everyday life — the representation brought into them by Uttam Chitrakar is an important step towards larger LGBTQ acceptance.
Durga Gawde
Durga Gawde is an artist, sculptor, activist, and self-professed as “India’s first drag king” — genderfluid, nonbinary, and pansexual. Chronicling their journey with their body and identity, their art is an honest and pathbreaking insight into queerness. They are known for performance art and undertake various interactive initiatives to educate people about gender and sexuality.
Sandeep TK
Photographer Sandeep TK is a celebration of the natural beauty of Kerala, the human body, race, and region. He brings appealing compositions, representing the trans community representation. In one of his famous photo projects, members of the hijra community were gathered and photographed dressed for their dream professions. Sandeep TK’s photo and video stories have the haunting lilt of loneliness; he has professed that queerness has contributed to the artistic trajectory immeasurably.
Anwesh Sahoo
Known for his successful run in the 2016 Mr. Gay World India, which he ended up winning, Anwesh Sahoo has since carved a name for himself as an artist, blogger, writer, model, actor and TEDx speaker. He prides himself as a visual artist and designer, sketching fashion-oriented sketches that defy sartorial gender norms. He is known for his series, ‘Mermen of Colour,’ which has been creating a splash.
T Praveen Kumar
Bengaluru-based artist T Praveen Kumar has a gritty take on the artistic depiction of queerness. These sketches and watercolours tend to take on darker hues and veer often into the territory of contemplative portraits of a diversity of individuals; themes of sexuality are also explored with power and grace.
Priya Dali
Queer Indian artist Priya Dali has been in the news for exploring sexual identity through the uncommon mechanism of a comic book. The art by the graphic designer and illustrator veers distinctly towards the comic book territory, all the while busting stereotypes, addressing sexuality, and remaining super-accessible for viewers.
Veer Misra
Artist Veer Misra takes up a rose-tinted look at the world of queerness in art, quite literally awash with shades of pink, depicting unabashed love in all its glorious avatars. But, along with intimacy, the illustrations also explore themes of loneliness, self-discovery, contemplation, companionship and more.
Opashona Ghosh
Hailing from Kolkata, Opashona Ghosh is an artist and facilitator now in London. According to their website, “their work explores feminist approaches to mental and sexual health, and club culture, locating the intersections of body, community and ritual”. Opashona Ghosh’s art is unapologetic and has a modernist pop culture vibe meshing with surrealist depictions.
Image Courtesy – Artnet News
