Akkitham Narayanan (b. 1939, Kerala) is a distinguished Indian painter recognised for his refined geometric abstraction rooted in Indian philosophical thought. Born into a traditional family environment closely associated with Vedic learning, Narayanan developed an early sensitivity to spiritual ideas that later informed the conceptual foundation of his art.
He received his Diploma in Painting from the Government School of Arts and Crafts, Madras in 1961, where he studied under the influential modernist K C S Paniker. This association played a significant role in shaping his artistic direction and introduced him to the evolving language of abstraction in modern Indian art. Narayanan was awarded a Government of India scholarship in the early 1960s and later moved to Paris in 1967 on a French Government scholarship to study monumental art and engraving at the École des Beaux Arts, where he trained under Jean Bertholle and Lucien Couteau.
Narayanan’s works are characterised by carefully structured compositions that integrate circles, triangles and rectilinear grids, drawing inspiration from Tantric symbolism and metaphysical concepts. Through controlled colour and balanced geometry, his paintings evoke meditative stillness and cosmic order.
Over a long and active career, Narayanan has exhibited widely across India and internationally. His contributions have been recognised with several honours, including multiple Tamil Nadu Lalit Kala Akademi awards and the K. C. S. Paniker Puraskaram from the Kerala Lalitakala Akademi. Now based in Paris, he continues to be regarded as a significant figure in modern Indian abstraction.