Amitava Das (b. 1947, New Delhi) is an Indian painter known for his powerful expressionist language and psychologically charged imagery. He graduated from the College of Art, New Delhi, in 1972, during which time he was associated with artist collectives such as the New Group and Artists’ Forum. Early in his career, Das received national recognition when he was awarded the National Award by the Lalit Kala Akademi in the 1970s. In 1989, he was awarded a fellowship to study exhibition and graphic design in Germany, further expanding his artistic perspective.

Das’s artistic vision was shaped by philosophical and literary influences, particularly the existential ideas of Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, as well as the poetry of Jibanananda Das and Shakti Chattopadhyay. This intellectual grounding is reflected in his paintings, which often feature solitary figures placed within dense, evocative spaces, conveying a sense of existential isolation and introspection.

Primarily aligned with expressionism, Das’s work is marked by a striking contrast between the delicate linearity of his drawings, built through rhythmic, staccato lines, and the bold, layered application of paint in his paintings. His art challenges conventional ideas of beauty and balance, presenting figures that exist ambiguously between victim, witness, and presence. In recent years, his practice has moved toward greater abstraction, with ongoing experimentation in materials and mediums, through which the very substance of the artwork becomes integral to its meaning. He lives and works in New Delhi.