Kanhai Chitrakar was an Indian artist and painter,[1][2][3] credited with the revival of the heritage painting discipline of Kanhai Art,[4] a method of painting where gold powder, gold leaves and gem stones are used.[5][6][7]
Kanhai Chitrakar was born in Vrindavan, in Mathura district, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.[2] His career started as an art director for the renowned filmmaker Guru Dutt, but later he returned to Vrindavan where he set up his studio, working in Kanhai art.[6] The studio have since grown to become Kanhai Art Works where he and his two sons, Krishn Kanhai and Govind Kanhai, worked producing art works. Krishna is a recipient of the Padma Shri award and Gobind has received the Uttar Pradesh State Ratna Award.[8]
A recipient of the AISCCON lifetime achievement award and the Uttar Pradesh Ratna award,[9] Chitrakar was honored by the Government of India, in 2000, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.[2][4][10] He died on 14 August 2013.[4]
