Rooted in memory and everyday encounters, Soumen Ray’s (b. 1999) practice is shaped by the aesthetics of embroidery and the cultural histories embedded in domestic craft. Having grown up watching his mother and aunts embellish household textiles—pillow covers, fabrics, and other functional objects—with embroidered flowers, butterflies, and personal motifs, Ray carries forward this tradition as a contemporary painter. For him, embroidery is not only a technique but also a way of investing ordinary surfaces with meaning, intimacy, and care. By translating these motifs into his imagery, Ray repositions what is often considered a decorative or marginal craft into a central language of his artistic practice. Bringing together painting, memory, and embroidery, Ray’s practice continues to evolve as a meditation on simplicity, care, and the transformation of the ordinary into the poetic.

Ray completed his BFA in Painting from the College of Visual Art, Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya (2016–2020), where he began exploring embroidery as an extension of his painting practice. He further honed his skills at Lalit Kala Academy, Kolkata (2021–22), and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Visual Arts (Painting) at the University of Kalyani (2022–24). His work has been exhibited widely, including at the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata; Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata; West Bengal State Akademi Annual Exhibition; Paschim Banga Charukola Exhibition; and multiple university annual shows. Over the past few years, he has received recognition through awards such as the College of Visual Art Annual Exhibition Award (2019), the Paschim Banga Charukola Award for Painting (2022), and the prestigious Kala Sakshi Memorial Trust Scholarship (2023).