Manoj Dutta is a self-taught artist born in 1956 in Kolkata His childhood in rural Bengal and the folk art he saw growing up has indelibly influenced his works After moving to an urban setting, the artist has centred his works around the city, interpreting it through elements of folk art He explores today’s society, its aspirations and its political and religious concerns through the simplicity and spontaneity of folk artisans  

Dutta’s work is identified by its intricate craftsmanship seen in his two-dimensional precisely patterned works The colour palette is a mix of vivid and subtle colours and the paintings and pastels are replete with subtle textures and depth All of these elements are amalgamated to express a specific mood or emotion 

The artist has exhibited his works widely in India and abroad including the Contemporary Art Show in South Korea, Contemporary Indian Art Show in Holland, Asian Art Show in Japan and the Busan Biennale in South Korea His works are also part of important permanent collections including the Birla Academy of Art and Culture in Kolkata, National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi and Lalit Kala Akademi