Latika Katt (20 February 1948 – 25 January 2025) was a pioneering figure in contemporary Indian sculpture, celebrated for her tactile mastery of materials, introspective depth, and unwavering artistic integrity. Over five decades, she forged a distinctive language in bronze, terracotta, stone, and unconventional mediums that reflected both personal vision and cultural rootedness.
Born in Varanasi, Katt pursued her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Banaras Hindu University, later earning a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University of Baroda, where she became the first woman to receive a gold medal in sculpture. In 1981, she was awarded a research scholarship to the prestigious Slade School of Art in London. Her formative years were shaped by influential mentors like K.S. Kulkarni, Suraj Ghai, Dhanraj Bhagat, and her husband, noted sculptor Balbir Singh Katt, with whom she shared both creative and personal bonds.
Latika Katt’s sculptural language was grounded in a deep engagement with nature, memory, mythology, and the human spirit. Her early experiments included the innovative use of cow dung and clay—materials drawn from her immediate environment—signifying a profound connection to the earth. As her practice evolved, her mastery over bronze and stone became widely recognized, particularly for her meditative portraits, sensuous forms, and expressions of feminine strength and introspection.
Katt received numerous awards and accolades throughout her distinguished career. Among her most celebrated achievements was the Beijing International Art Biennale Award (2010) for her bronze work “Makar Sankranti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi”, a poignant depiction of ritual, life, and spiritual rhythm along the Ganges. Her portraits of figures such as Ramkinkar Baij, Mulk Raj Anand, and N.S. Bendre remain iconic works within Indian modernist sculpture.
In addition to her prolific studio practice, Katt was a revered educator. She served as the Head of the Department of Fine Arts at Jamia Millia Islamia University, where she mentored generations of young artists and advocated for a more inclusive and material-sensitive pedagogy in the arts.
Her final public exhibition, Women Sculptors in Modern India, held at Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata, in November 2024, brought together the works of sixteen pioneering women artists. Katt’s participation—through her granite works—was a reaffirmation of her enduring presence and continued relevance in the Indian art discourse. The show became a poignant farewell, marking the last major exhibition of her lifetime.
Latika Katt passed away on 25 January 2025, just weeks before her 77th birthday. She leaves behind a body of work that is deeply rooted in material, memory, and meaning. Her legacy continues to shape the course of Indian sculpture, not only through her art but also through her role as a trailblazer for women in the field.
Latika Katt sculpted not just forms—but a path for others to follow.