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{{Short description|Indian contemporary artist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sameer Kulavoor
| image = Sameer Kulavoor.jpg
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]]
| alma_mater = [[Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics]]; [[Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art]]
| known_for = Contemporary art
| notable_works = Ghoda-Cycle Project, Blued Book, Please Have a Seat, A Man of the Crowd, You are All Caught Up
| relatives = Zeenat Kulavoor (sister)
| website = [https://www.sameerkulavoor.com]
}}

'''Sameer Kulavoor''' (born 1983)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sameer Kulavoor - Bio, Artworks, Exhibitions and more - Artland |url=https://www.artland.com/artists/sameer-kulavoor}}</ref> is an Indian contemporary artist and founder of one of the earliest specialised design studios in India, Bombay Duck Designs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=In the studio of Bombay Duck Designs|url=https://www.beautifulhomes.com/living/studios/in-the-studio-of-bombay-duck-designs.html|access-date=2021-06-21|website=beautifulhomes|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-01|title=The Realities of Running a Design Studio in Mumbai|url=https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/the-realities-of-running-a-design-studio-in-mumbai/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Eye on Design|language=en-US}}</ref>

His works include art, graphic design and contemporary illustration. They have taken the form of paintings, murals, books, zines, prints and objects.

Kulavoor was profiled in the third season of the [[Netflix]] docu-series, ''Creative Indians'', featuring alongside [[A. R. Rahman|A R Rahman]], [[Anurag Kashyap]], [[Anita Dongre]] and [[Piyush Pandey]], amongst others. He was included as one of '50 Most Influential Young Indians' twice by [[GQ India]] in 2015<ref>{{Cite web|author=G. Q. Staff|title=The 50 most influential young Indians|url=https://www.gqindia.com/galleries/The-50-most-influential-young-Indians|access-date=2021-06-21|website=GQ India|language=en-IN}}</ref> and 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|author=G. Q. Staff|title=50 Most Influential Young Indians 2016: Next Gen|url=https://www.gqindia.com/galleries/50-most-influential-young-indians-mavericks?image=5cdc255578abdc00e25c0085|access-date=2021-06-20|website=GQ India|date=July 2016|language=en-IN}}</ref> Elle Decor named him as part of their 15 Young Artists to follow in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|title=15 young Indian artists to follow right now|url=https://elledecor.in/article/15-young-indian-artists-to-follow-right-now/|access-date=2021-06-20|website=ELLE DECOR|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Kulavoor was born and brought up in the suburbs of Mumbai. He finished junior college from [[Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics|Sydenham College]] and graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Art (Applied Art) from [[Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art|Sir J J Institute of Applied Arts]] in 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Relative value: Family sketch|work=Mumbai Mirror|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/relative-value-family-sketch/articleshow/63660336.cms}}</ref>

== Work ==

=== Early years ===
Kulavoor began his design career while still a student, working on freelance design and illustration projects between the years 2001 to 2005.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Anuka Roy|date=Apr 8, 2018 |title=Relative value: Family sketch |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/relative-value-family-sketch/articleshow/63660336.cms |access-date=2021-06-21 |website=Mumbai Mirror |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-12-03|title=Sameer Kulavoor|url=https://www.joinpaperplanes.com/blogs/magazine-folk-sameer-kulavoor/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Paper Planes|language=en-US}}</ref> During this time, he made a music video for the song 'Disconnected' for [[Vishal Dadlani]]'s independent band [[Pentagram (Indian band)|Pentagram]]. He made another music video for their song 'Love Drug Climb Down' later in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-10-10|title=Pentagram releases music video -|url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/pentagram-releases-music-video/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=My Site|language=en-US}}</ref> Between 2005 and 2007, he worked on numerous motion graphics and illustration projects as a freelancer, including for the Indian music channels [[MTV (Indian TV channel)|MTV India]] and [[Channel V]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-05-16|title=Music and Visual Arts|url=https://thefloatingmagazine.com/cover-feature-music-visual-arts/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=The Floating Magazine|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Team|first=AnimationXpress|date=2012-06-18|title=In Talks with Design maestro, Sameer Kulavoor|url=https://www.animationxpress.com/interviews/in-talks-with-design-maestro-sameer-kulavoor/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=AnimationXpress|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Design and self-publishing ===
In 2008, Kulavoor founded the design studio Bombay Duck Designs in Mazgaon, Mumbai.<ref name=":0" /> Around this time Kulavoor self-published zines and art books, like the ''Ghoda-Cycle Project'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sameer Kulavoor: Artist we love|url=https://elledecor.in/article/sameer-kulavoor-artist-we-love/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=ELLE DECOR|language=en-US}}</ref> the ''Blued Book'', ''Zeroxwala Zine'', ''100% Zine'', ''Kalaghoda Musings''<ref>{{Cite news|title=Limited-edition Kala Ghoda artwork you'll want to get your hands on|work=Hindustan Times|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/limited-edition-kala-ghoda-artwork-you-ll-want-to-get-your-hands-on/story-gN3uQOKTYoHNp63gZvAxfL.html}}</ref> and a series of flip-books. The ''Blued Book'' is an illustrated documentation of the use of '<nowiki/>''Taad-Patri''' or blue tarpaulin used widely and innovatively in different parts of India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Illustration: Sameer Kulavoor paints a beautiful portrait of metropolitan India|url=https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/blued|access-date=2021-06-21|website=www.itsnicethat.com|language=en}}</ref>

Between 2011 and 2017, Bombay Duck Designs developed and designed the illustrative visual language for the Indian music festival, [[NH7 Weekender]] by [[Only Much Louder|OML]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NH7 Weekender wraps up in Bengaluru|url=http://everythingexperiential.businessworld.in/article/NH7-Weekender-wraps-up-in-Bengaluru/10-11-2014-102489|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Everything Experiential|language=en}}</ref>

In 2012, Kulavoor collaborated with the UK design house [[Paul Smith (fashion designer)|Paul Smith]] for a line of t-shirts with artworks based on the Indian bicycle culture.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pal|first=Chandrima|title=Sameer Kulavoor receives a warm note of acknowledgement from Paul Smith|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/sameer-kulavoor-receives-a-warm-note-of-acknowledgement-from-paul-smith/articleshow/38542812.cms|access-date=2021-06-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Volpe|first=Heidi|title=All the stories behind Sameer Kulavoor's Man in the Crowd|url=https://www.vogue.in/content/stories-behind-sameer-kulavoors-man-crowd|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Vogue India|date=11 April 2018|language=en-IN}}</ref>

=== Art practice ===
An exhibition of his series of art prints 'Please Have a Seat' was held at the Artisans' Center, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Homegrown|title=Sameer Kulavoor Explores The Forgotten Magic Of Everyday Life In 'Please Have A Seat'|url=https://homegrown.co.in/article/52336/sameer-kulavoor-explores-the-forgotten-magic-of-everyday-life-in-please-have-a-seat|access-date=2021-06-21|website=homegrown.co.in|language=en}}</ref> Since late 2017, Kulavoor has been represented by the Mumbai-based art gallery Tarq in India.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2020-06-30|title=studioELL Sameer Kulavoor|url=https://www.studioell.org/studiovisit/sameer-kulavoor/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=studioELL|language=en-US}}</ref>

His first solo show of paintings and sculptures called 'A Man of the Crowd' was held in Mumbai at the Tarq Gallery in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rao|first=Saritha|title=Mumbai's Tarq Gallery hosts Sameer Kulavoor's latest exhibition|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/tarq-mumbai-hosts-sameer-kulavoor-exhibition|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Architectural Digest India|date=14 March 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Rayachoti|first=Saritha Rao|date=2018-04-28|title=A metropolis of many narratives|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/a-metropolis-of-many-narratives/article23686250.ece|access-date=2021-06-21|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In 2019, a suite of his drawings was exhibited alongside works by writer and journalist Rachel Lopez, photographer, journalist Ritesh Uttamchandani, artist [[Sudhir Patwardhan]], photographers Pallon Daruwala and Peter Bialobrzesk as part of the show 'The Shifting City', an exhibition curated by Kaiwan Mehta, in collaboration with the Architecture Foundation India, and [[Rahul Mehrotra]] as project advisor.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Behrawala|first=Krutika|date=2019-04-04|title=Mumbai: A metropolis in transition|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/mumbai-a-metropolis-in-transition/article26737269.ece|access-date=2021-06-21|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-04|title=An exhibition in Mumbai highlights how a city becomes home to strangers|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/any-dream-will-do-sameer-kulavoor-sudhir-patwardhan-ritesh-uttamchandani-5757314/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

'This is Not A Still Life', a series of eight works was exhibited at the India Art Fair, 2020 and a printed version of the same works were used for the facade design of the fair.

In December 2020, Kulavoor's second solo 'You Are All Caught Up' was exhibited at the Tarq Gallery in Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Free virtual workshops for artists|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/science-tech/free-virtual-workshops-for-artists/cid/1808269|access-date=2021-06-21|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref> The show consisted of works made between 2018 and 2020 and included drawings and paintings and explored "personal and political ideas through the lens of social media".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Deepali|title=Mumbai: This show explores political ideas through the lens of social media|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/mumbai-exhibition-at-tarq-explores-personal-and-political-ideas-through-the-lens-of-social-media|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Architectural Digest India|date=3 December 2020|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-02|title=Sameer Kulavoor's new show investigates the way we view the world through a screen|url=https://lifestyle.livemint.com//how-to-lounge/art-culture/sameer-kulavoor-s-new-show-investigates-the-way-we-view-the-world-through-a-screen-111606901504160.html|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Mintlounge|language=en}}</ref> Covering the show, the website ''It's Nice That'' wrote that "[Kulavoor's] most recent body of work continues this study into the metropolis and analyses the “personal, political and the pandemic”, all the while characteristically placing the city as the backdrop. Very much a reflection of the current global situation, The Migrants Have Left, for example, turns his previously people-focused drawings on its head as it illustrates a life in lockdown".<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Sameer Kulavoor's paintings depict large-scale, bustling metropolises|url=https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/sameer-kulavoor-art-190121|access-date=2021-06-20|website=www.itsnicethat.com|language=en}}</ref>

Kulavoor created a limited edition zine 'Smart City' which was published by the Zurich based independent publishing house Nieves in 2022 <ref>{{Cite web |title=Nieves · Sameer Kulavoor |url=https://www.nieves.ch/4317/smart_city |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=www.nieves.ch}}</ref> and self-published another limited edition zine 'City as Collage' in 2025 as part of the exhibition 'Artist as..' at the Tarq Gallery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sameer Kulavoor, City as Collage , 2025 |url=https://www.tarq.in/artworks/71860-sameer-kulavoor-city-as-collage-2025/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=TARQ |language=en}}</ref>

Kulavoor's third solo 'Edifice Complex' was exhibited at Tarq Gallery in 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=This exhibition explores the ever-evolving nature of cityscapes {{!}} Goodhomes.co.in |url=https://www.goodhomes.co.in/home-and-design-trends/trending/this-exhibition-explores-the-ever-evolving-nature-of-cityscapes-8689.html |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.goodhomes.co.in |language=en}}</ref> borrowing its title "from a phrase coined by Behn Cervantes, a Filipino activist writing in the time of the autocrat [[Ferdinand Marcos]]. It references the phenomenon where individuals, organisations, or governments become obsessed with building grandiose structures to give an impression of power, status or progress, often at the expense of more pressing needs".<ref>{{Cite web |last=world |first=STIR |title='Edifice Complex': Drawings of architecture that reveal socio-economic reality |url=https://www.stirworld.com/see-features-edifice-complex-drawings-of-architecture-that-reveal-socio-economic-reality |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.stirworld.com |language=English}}</ref> Some of his recent bodies of work were on display at the Tarq booths at Art Basel, Hong Kong<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-14 |title=HIGHLIGHTS FROM ART BASEL IN HONG KONG 2024 – MASH India |url=https://www.mashindia.com/highlights-from-art-basel-in-hong-kong-2024/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> - cited as one of the emerging artists to look out for at the fair by [[Tatler]] Asia <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhargava |first=Aaina |title=8 emerging Asian artists to look out for at Art Basel Hong Kong 2024 |url=https://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/arts/art-basel-hong-kong-emerging-asian-artists-2024 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Tatler Asia |language=en}}</ref> - and Art Mumbai,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sameer Kulavoor - Biography |url=https://www.tarq.in/artists/43-sameer-kulavoor/biography/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=TARQ |language=en}}</ref> both in 2024.

In November 2025, Kulavoor opened his first museum solo titled 'Limits of the Town' at the [[Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum|Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum]] in Mumbai curated by Tasneem Zakaria Mehta.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-13 |title=Sameer Kulavoor's new exhibition traces the myths, ambitions, and designs behind the making of Mumbai |url=https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/sameer-kulavoors-new-exhibition-traces-the-myths-ambitions-and-designs-behind-the-making-of-mumbai-23602910 |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=Mid-day |language=en}}</ref>

=== Public art ===
Kulavoor played an active role in the revived public art movement in India during the 2010s.<ref name=":4"/> In 2017, he painted a mural in the popular art neighbourhood of [[Kala Ghoda]] in [[South Mumbai]] on display on the exterior walls of Artisans' Center.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-02-04|title=Stop and Stare: Sameer Kulavoor's Mural at Artisans' {{!}} Verve Magazine|url=https://www.vervemagazine.in/arts-and-culture/stop-and-stare-sameer-kulavoors-mural-at-artisans|access-date=2021-06-21|website=[[Verve (Indian magazine)]]|language=en-US}}</ref> At the St+Art India exhibition 'Sasson Dock Art Project', he created ''Parfum Sassoon'', a mural and installation representing an imaginary larger-than-life premium perfume brand at the Sassoon Dock area of South Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'mello|first=Rosalyn|date=2018-02-02|title=Taking art to the streets|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/21GicoCJXu5RdlMMjZypIL/Taking-art-to-the-streets.html|access-date=2021-06-21|website=mint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-12-02|title=Street art comes to Sassoon Docks: Mumbai's historic fishing district gets a makeover with the St+Art project|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/street-art-comes-to-sassoon-docks-mumbais-historic-fishing-district-gets-a-makeover-with-the-start-project-4227395.html|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Firstpost}}</ref> His 2019 mural ' Social Media Friendly Plants' for St+Art India, is currently visible at the Lodhi Colony, art district in [[New Delhi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lodhi Art District – St+art India|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/lodhi-art-district/NQKi787tb1GHJA|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Google Arts & Culture|language=en}}</ref> He also painted the 2020 CEAT House (RPG Building) mural at Worli, in honor of the COVID-19 warriors and frontline workers<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rao|first=Saritha|title=A visual tribute comes to life in Mumbai, saluting the COVID-19 warriors|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/visual-tribute-comes-life-facade-rpg-house-mumbai-saluting-citys-covid-19-warriors|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Architectural Digest India|date=26 May 2020|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wall Of Gratitude: This Mural Is A Tribute To Covid-19 Frontline Workers|url=https://www.grazia.co.in/lifestyle/wallofgratitude-this-mural-is-a-tribute-to-covid-19-frontline-workers-4999.html|access-date=2021-06-21|website=grazia.co.in|language=en}}</ref> and the 2021 mural Lokame Tharavadu exhibition for the [[Kochi-Muziris Biennale]] at the [[Alappuzha|Alleppey]] beach in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gupta|first=Nidhi|title=In Kerala, Bose Krishnamachari unveils "Lokame Tharavadu" with 267 artists and one timely message|url=https://www.gqindia.com/entertainment/content/in-kerala-bose-krishnamachari-unveils-lokame-tharavadu-with-267-artists|access-date=2021-06-21|website=GQ India|date=20 April 2021|language=en-IN}}</ref> A mural of his architecture based drawings is up on the exterior of the [[Goethe-Institut|Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan]] at Kala Ghoda, Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai |url=https://sameerkulavoor.com/portfolio/goethe-institut-gallery-mmb/ |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=Sameer Kulavoor |language=en-US}}</ref> His latest public art installation titled 'Metromorphosis', was made in collaboration with artist and production designer Sandeep Meher, as part of St+Art India's 'Mumbai Urban Art Project' consisting of multiple sculptures, each a unique composition of miniature, stacked urban architectural structures in Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=Mumbai Urban Art Festival at Sassoon Dock is preoccupied with the water-based transformations humans have wrought |url=https://www.vogue.in/culture-and-living/content/mumbai-urban-art-festival-at-sassoon-dock-is-preoccupied-with-the-water-based-transformations-humans-have-wrought |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Vogue India |language=en-IN}}</ref>

=== Academic ===
Kulavoor together with architect Rahul Malandkar conducted a studio course titled 'What's Architecture Got to Do With It?' at [[CEPT University]], Ahmedabad in the spring semester of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cept University, Ahmedabad |url=https://portfolio.cept.ac.in/2024/M/fa/what-s-architecture-got-to-do-with-it-ar2052-spring-2024}}</ref> In 2023, Kulavoor gave a talk at [[Central Saint Martins|Central Saint Martins, University of Arts, London]] as part of their 'Practice is Critical' series<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martins |first=Central Saint |date=2024-05-01 |title=CSMplayer |url=https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/central-saint-martins/student-life-at-csm/csmplayer |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Central Saint Martins |language=en}}</ref> and a lecture for the students of the Architecture Faculty, [[University of Hong Kong|Hong Kong University]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sameer Kulavoor |url=https://www.arch.hku.hk/event_/sameer-kulavoor/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.arch.hku.hk |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kulavoor, Sameer}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian artists]]
[[Category:Indian contemporary artists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian designers]]

Sameer Kulavoor - Revision history

Anymore6055: Added Entry