Ananta Mandal

Ananta Mandal (Bengali: অনন্ত মন্ডল) (born 5 February 1983) is an Indian artist. He has been recognised with international and national honours for his many paintings in watercolour, oil and acrylic. He lives and works in Mumbai, India.

Ananta Mandal spent his childhood in Chakdaha, West Bengal, in India. He graduated from Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, Calcutta University (Kolkata) in 2007 with a degree in Bachelor of Visual Arts. Mandal stayed in Kolkata from 2002 to 2007, during this period he started painting on Kolkata's life. In 2008 he moved to Mumbai.

Ananta Mandal has 16 Solo Exhibitions in his career. The journey started in 2004 when he had his first solo show at Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata as a student. He has exhibited in numerous group shows and solo exhibitions in India and abroad and he has often been invited as guest artist. He is a life member of the Bombay Art Society.

Most of his paintings are Watercolor, Acrylic and Oil color based. His paintings depict realistic urban landscapes, city life, Bengalis durga festival (durga puja), old railway steam engine, tropical desert of Rajasthan and the many moods of nature. Mostly his notable works depict the atmosphere of Mumbai and Kolkata.

Mandal won more than 40 Awards Internationally and all over in India. His notable excellent achievements are

International Awards

• 2017: Award from Northwest Watercolor Society, Washington, USA.
• 2013: First place Award from Watercolor Art Society-Houston, USA.
• 2012 : The Winsor & Newton Excellence Award – Northwest Watercolor Society, United States
• 2011 : Award – The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, United States
• 2010 : Best of show Award – Western Federation of Watercolor Society, Utah, United States
• 2009 : Award - San Diego Watercolor Society, USA
• 2009 : Award - North East Watercolor Society, New York, USA
• 2007 : Award of Excellence, Western Federation of Watercolor Society, United States
• 2007 : Award, Texas Watercolor Society, Texas, United States
• 2006 : Award of Excellence, San Diego Watercolor Society, California, United States

Awards in India

• 2013: AIFACS Award - 14th all India Watercolor Exhibition, New Delhi
• 2012 : AIFACS Award – 100 Years of the city of New Delhi 2011. New Delhi
• 2011: Award for Best Landscape in Watercolor Bombay Art Society. Mumbai
• 2010 : Best Painting Award - R.A.D Annual Exhibition, Arannya 2010, Kolkata
• 2009 : Best Entry Award - The Art Society of India. Mumbai
• 2009 : Award – Bombay Art Society. Mumbai
• 2006 : Camlin Award – 7th Eastern Region, (Kokuyo Camlin), Kolkata
• 2006 : Award - The Art Society of India. Mumbai
• 2006 : Award - Lokmanya Tilak Art Exhibition, Pune
• 2005 : Best Award - R.A.D Exhibition, Arannya 2010, Kolkata
• 2005 : Best Water Color Painting Award - Calcutta Information Centre, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata
• 2005 : Award – South Central Zone Cultural Center, ministry of culture. Govt. of India. Cultural Zones of India Nagpur
• 2005 : Award - Indian Society of Oriental Art, Kolkata
• 2005 : Birla Academy Award - Birla Academy Art & Culture. Kolkata
• 2005 : Award - Bombay Art Society. Mumbai
• 2005 : Best Painting Award - Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata

Kolkata Series

The Kolkata Series started from his college days from 2001, when Ananta spent his next six years in College Hostel. That area resembled old British period of Kolkata (Calcutta). In this series there are Trams in Kolkata & tramline with old architecture, hand pulled rickshaws, yellow taxi, different mood and seasons of the city. His artistic journey started with Kolkata paintings.

Mumbai Series

After completing his studies he moved to Mumbai in 2008. Later he developed a new series on Mumbai's city life. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Gateway of India and The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Bandra–Worli Sea Link, Skyline and Sea Harbor, Ganesh Chaturthi, Mumbai Suburban Railway are main among his subjects. In 2016 he did solo exhibition on Mumbai series at Jehangir Art Gallery.

Ananta has continuously supported NGO and charitable trust in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Dubai, London through his Paintings and art exhibitions aim to raise fund for cancer, women education, child rights and special needs.He took part in charity art shows for the Nargis Dutt Foundation by Priya Dutt, NGO CRY (Child Rights and You), Indian Cancer Society, Cancer Patients Aid Association, SNF Development Center. Mandal's artworks are also given to many art auctions to help raise money.

• 2014 : TellusArt & Abu Dhabi Art Hub Presented an International art residency, Abu Dhabi, UAE

• 2006: Selected Top 100 Artist – The Art Renewal Center's International Competition, New York, United States
• 2007: Selected for Traveling Show – Texas Watercolor Society, Texas, United States
• 2008: Harmony Art show, ' in Reliance Industries all – India art exhibition'. Mumbai