K.G. Subramanyan (1924–2016) was a pioneering figure in modern Indian art, renowned for bridging traditional Indian craft heritage with Western modernism. Affectionately known as “Manida,” he studied under legendary masters at Shantiniketan after being imprisoned for his role in the Quit India Movement, and later refined his craft at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. As a highly versatile artist, he rejected the division between “high art” and “craft,” creating a vast body of work that included paintings, pottery, weaving, toy making, and monumental public murals that drew from folklore, mythology, and social satire. Beyond his diverse studio practice, Subramanyan was a transformative educator at M.S. University, Baroda, and Kala Bhavana, Shantiniketan, as well as an influential art theorist who authored landmark texts. His monumental contributions to shaping India’s post-Independence cultural identity earned him the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.