Who is Shiv Kumar Soni?
Shiv Kumar Soni (b. 1992) is a young artist from Bidasar, Churu in Rajasthan, India. He relocated to Jaipur to follow his dream career and earned a Bachelor’s in Visual Arts from the Rajasthan School of Art in Jaipur, graduating in 2013. Since then he has worked tirelessly, advocating for childhood nostalgia through his paintings.
Soni has exhibited his works in numerous prestigious national (Jaipur, Ludhiana, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nashik, and Goa) exhibitions. His artwork is included in many renowned art collections. Shiv Kumar Soni has also participated in multiple international group shows, most notably, the Affordable Art Fair (AAF) in New York in 2023 and Walls with Stories at Samsara Art Gallery, Dubai in 2025.
Acrylic on Canvas, 48×48 in.
Courtesy – Abir Space
Shiv Kumar Soni’s Art Style
Soni is an imaginative painter, who has created a marquee of childhood with acrylic paints, albeit in a style traditionally associated with watercolours. He is a keen observer, whose paintings are an extension of his childhood experiences. In addition, he is also starstruck by nature, sketching and painting landscapes, immortalising a moment in time. Through fluid brushwork and a burst of colours, Shiv fills his canvases with pure joy and profound happiness.
Acrylic on Canvas, 24×24 in.
Courtesy – Abir Space
He portrays his early years — playing in the rain, dreaming above the clouds, flying kites, and many more childhood memories. On closer inspection, you would notice the omnipotence of everyday items like kites, birds, balloons, toys, trays, and hats. A recurring character in Shiv Kumar Soni’s work is ‘Puppy,’ an imagined character, bearing an innocent charm and mischief. The character seems to be a part of him, navigating life as a child.
Acrylic on Canvas, 48×48 in.
Courtesy – Abir Space
To his admission, his art is meant to “bring joy to both myself and those who view them.” Through this portraiture of childhood, he wishes that the viewers could reminisce about their childhoods, transporting them to a custom joyful realm full of bliss and contentment. Some of his characters often have a head full of hair and dreams in abundance, moonwalking like the iconic pop star MJ in one piece, soaring through the sky, and daydreaming about new adventures or planning playful mischief in yet another.
Image – Dreams of Childhood 12, Acrylic on Canvas, 36×48 in. Courtesy – Abir Space
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