Sankho Chaudhuri (25 February 1916 – 28 August 2006) was an Indian sculptor artist, and a noted figure in the art scene ofIndia.(Although named Naranarain[1] in due family tradition, he was more widely known by his pet name Sankho).Ram Kinker Baij was his teacher. He began close tocubism and then was influenced byIstván Beöthy, whom he had met inParis. His themes have included the female figure and wildlife. He has worked in a wide range of media and produced large-scalereliefs andmobiles. He was a recipient ofPadma Shri in 1971; a National Award and Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1956 & 1982; D.Litt. (Honoris Causa) by theCentro Escolar University, Philippines, 1974; Aban-Gohan Award by Visva Bharati University, 1981. He was the Ist Honorary Joint Secretary, Indian Sculptors Association, Mumbai. He was Chairman ofLalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in the late 1980s. A Retrospective was held of his works at the NGMA in 1997.
Chaudhuri completed his Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Fine Arts from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan in 1939. In 1945, he earned a Diploma in Fine Art with Distinction in Sculpture, fromKala Bhavan, Santiniketan.
He taught Fine Arts at the University of Dar-e-Salam Tanzania and also represented the country at the International Conferences in UNESCO, Paris and Venice.
