Anish Kapoor

Anish Kapoor stands out as a preeminent sculptor of his era, focusing his craft on installation and conceptual art.

Biography of Anish Kapoor

Anish Kapoor, born in Mumbai, India, to an Iraqi Jewish mother and an Indian Punjabi Hindu father, began his education at The Doon School, a boys' boarding school in Dehradun, India. In 1971, he relocated to Israel with one of his brothers. Although he initially pursued electrical engineering, Kapoor faced difficulties with mathematics and abandoned his studies after six months.

During his time in Israel, he decided to pursue an art career. In 1973, he moved to Britain to attend Hornsey College of Art and Chelsea School of Art and Design, where he found inspiration in artist Paul Neagu, who provided him with guidance and meaning.

Kapoor later ventured into teaching at Wolverhampton Polytechnic in 1979 and served as Artist in Residence at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, in 1982. Since the early 1970s, he has made London his home and artistic base.

During the 1980s, Kapoor gained recognition for his geometric or biomorphic sculptures crafted from humble materials such as granite, limestone, marble, pigment, and plaster. As the late 1980s and 1990s unfolded, Kapoor garnered acclaim for his profound explorations of materiality and immateriality, notably conjuring the concept of the void in both standalone sculptural pieces and expansive installations. He embarked on his venture into stonework in 1987 and, since 1995, has been immersed in crafting with polished stainless steel, renowned for its highly reflective surface.

Kapoor initially emerged onto the art scene as part of the New British Sculpture movement alongside fellow British sculptors Tony Cragg and Richard Deacon. His debut solo exhibition unfolded at Patrice Alexandra in Paris in 1980, signaling the commencement of his artistic journey. Kapoor's ascent to international acclaim came to fruition when he represented Britain at the prestigious Venice Biennale in 1990. Additionally, in 1992, his contribution to documenta IX with "Building Descent into Limbo" further solidified his status as a trailblazing artist. 

In 2009, Kapoor assumed the inaugural role of Guest Artistic Director for the Brighton Festival, marking a historic moment. Subsequently, in September of the same year, Kapoor made history again as the first living artist to hold a solo exhibition at the esteemed Royal Academy of Arts. 

Kapoor's significant impact on the visual arts was further underscored by the award of a CBE in 2003 and a Knighthood in 2013, both honors recognizing his remarkable service to the field.