Kuldeep Singh
signature form of composition. Drawing on the movements of the dance
form, Kuldeep renders landscapes and bodies defined by a sense of
longing and dreaminess. Ecologies and landscapes are rendered with a
distinct sensuality and feeling of queer desire. Kuldeep's paintings
reveal a deeply interdisciplinary practice, intertwining multiple modes
of expression, as well his thematic concerns with sexuality and the
environment.
Kuldeep Singh is a contemporary artist based in New York whose
practice traverses the boundaries of painting, immersive
performance/films and installations. Born out of a decade-long and
rigorous training in Indian classical dance of Odissi, under the
tutelage of acclaimed exponent Madhavi Mudgal in New Delhi, Kuldeep's
work weaves together deconstructed elements into a rich tapestry of
speculative narratives.
His painting practice, anchored in
oil/acrylic on canvas, embodies the essence of his multidisciplinary
exploration. Reinterpreting historic Ragamala paintings through a queer
and ecological lens since 2019, his strokes are whimsical, bringing to
life storytelling rooted in Sanskrit literature and the Natyashastra.
His canvas becomes a playground for mischief, sensuality, and denial,
resulting in a hypnotic world charged with emotive tones of pathos,
confusion, and wonder. Kuldeep's work invites viewers into a realm where
tradition and innovation coalesce, creating a space for introspection
and dialogue on the intersections of culture, identity, and contemporary
existence. Holding a BFA in Fine Arts from the College of Art, Delhi
University, and an MFA from the University of Iowa (on full
scholarship), Kuldeep has earned recognition through prestigious
residencies at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Yaddo, Bemis
Center for Contemporary Art, and Residency Unlimited, among
others. His accolades include the highly competitive New York Foundation
for the Arts Fellowship (2018), Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Dance
Fellowship (2022) and the National Freedom of Expression Award from
Mumbai's Infinity Films (2009).
Kuldeep's solo exhibitions include
those at gallery Chemould Colab in Mumbai (2024), the Knockdown Center
in Brooklyn (2019) and the Asia Society Museum in NYC (2018), which
created immersive environments charged with a unique blend of queerness,
environmentalism, and decolonial thought. His work has also been
featured at institutions like the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in New
Delhi. And forthcoming in 2025, Kuldeep will be presenting his work at
the National Museum of Norway in Oslo.
