Balan Nambiar Biography 
Balan Nambiar is an Indian artist of Kerala origin. He is from Kannur. He is known as a painter, sculptor, enamellist, photographer and an academic researcher. He is a recipient of several honours including India National award for sculpture and Nehru fellowship for research. He also received the prestigious Raja Ravi Verma Puraskaram in 2014, the highest state award in the art category. Valampiri Shanka and The Sky is the Limit are his notable works. As an artist and photographer, he was documented several traditional art forms and ritual performances of Kerala such as Theyyam. He is the former of chairman of the Lalit Kala Academi, New Delhi, and has served on the advisory board of various cultural organizations.
This senior and veteran artist was born on 12 November 1937 in Kannapuram, Madras Presidency, British India. He gained recognition as one of the leading sculptors of India in post-independent era. He completed his early works in materials such as clay, fiberglass reinforced concrete, wood, bronze and mild steel. With the new millennium he moved to stainless steel. He has done enamel paintings, after learning the technique from Paolo De Poli of Padua, Italy. Many of his works have become permanent collections in several museums. He has also conducted exhibitions worldwide.
Apart from a well-experienced sculptor, he gained recognition as a photographer too. Traditionally followed art forms like Theyyam and Buta Kola have fascinated him a lot and he has made an amazing photography collection of both. About 1800 photographs have been acquired by New Delhi Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts. He has also published many books related to art and photography since 1981. "Veeralipattu, Valampiri Shankha, Kannadi Bimbam" in 2014 is his most recent work.
Published: November 06, 2018
Updated: November 06, 2018
