Amarnath Sehgal, an artist of great versatility, initially embarked on an engineering career before redirecting his focus towards the realm of arts In 1947, he pursued studies at the Mayo School of Art (later known as the National College of Arts since 1958) and the Lahore School of Fine Arts, both located in Lahore Subsequently, he delved into Art Education for three years at New York University Upon returning to India in 1951, Sehgal collaborated closely with the Ministry of Community Development, playing a pivotal role in establishing workshops to revive folk art in rural areas of North India

In 1966, Sehgal resigned from his role as an Art Consultant for the Ministry of Community Development and relocated to Europe Throughout the following decade, he actively participated in exhibitions held in Paris, Berlin, Luxembourg, Antwerp, and Munich In 1979, he inaugurated a studio in Luxembourg, dividing his time between Luxembourg and New Delhi In 1986, he founded The Creative Fund to support young artists from both countries in exploring and appreciating their rich cultural heritage

Sehgal, proficient in various mediums including sculptures, paintings, poems, graphics, and tapestries, channelled his experiences of witnessing the Partition of India into highly expressive works His art captured emotions such as anguish, helplessness, oppression, and hope

Achieving success in his lifetime, Sehgal's works found their place in private and public collections globally, including prestigious institutions such as the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades, including the Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship in 1993, the highest honour in the fine arts bestowed by the government In 2008, the Government of India posthumously awarded Sehgal the Padma Bhushan in recognition of his significant contributions to art and culture