The works of Sajeesh Pallikkara unfold like dreamscapes where reality and imagination meet. Animals, plants, and human figures share the same frame, yet rarely remain fixed, assuming new identities. His use of empty space adds depth, blurring the line between the real and the subconscious, and allowing unexpected juxtapositions – predator and prey, or other unlikely pairings, which adds meaning beyond the surface. Familiar objects become strange, yet patterns emerge, inviting viewers to navigate a world that reflects both unconscious impulses and the tensions of society.
Born in Ernakulam, Kerala, Sajeesh completed his BFA and MFA in Painting from RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, Tripunithura. He has received several honours, including the National Award from the Lalit Kala Akademi (2016–17), the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi State Award (2013–14), and the Siddhartha Foundation Award, Kollam (2014–15). Earlier, he was awarded the UNFPA-CMS Art for Social Change Award in New Delhi (2008), alongside scholarships and special mentions from the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi. His works have been exhibited widely, from the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi State Annual Exhibition at Durbar Hall Art Centre, Kochi, to national platforms such as the Lalit Kala Akademi’s Cross Country Exhibition in New Delhi. Working with different mediums, Sajeesh creates layered narratives where memory, myth, and social reality converge.