Born in 1977 in Siliguri, India, Abir Karmakar commenced his art education at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata He then completed an MA in Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara

Ruminating on the ideas of memory, identity, and place, the artist gained recognition for his photorealist self-portraits that showcased his brilliant mastery over the medium of oil on canvas 

His solo exhibitions include 'Displacement’, curated by Birgid Uccia at Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke (2017) and 'Here Everything is Fine' at Gallery Ske, New Delhi (2019-20) His works have been part of prominent group exhibitions such as '20/20 'Artists for Khoj', Khoj International Artists' Association, New Delhi (2018) 

His work was also showcased in an exhibition titled 'Shifting Shapes — Unstable Signs' which showcased works by contemporary Indian artists in New York in 2009 Talking about his work in the show, art critic Benjamin Genocchio wrote in his New York Times review, “Mental pain and suffering is also the unstated theme of 'Within the Walls III' (2008), an impressive super-realistic painting by Abir Karmakar It is a self-portrait, painted in a London hotel room, depicting the artist crouched down in a corner with his face right up against the wall Is he frightened of something, or is he ashamed? We don’t know But the amber glow of the lights adds to the overall mysteriousness Whatever the explanation here, this man is in purgatory"

The artist was also awarded The Harmony Award in 2007 and the prestigious Gold Medal for Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, in 2003 Abir lives and works in Vadodara