Adwaita Charan Gadanayak born on April 24, 1963 he is a renowned Indian sculptor and an eminent figure in contemporary Indian art. He Studied at B.K. College of Arts and Crafts (Bhubaneswar), College of Art (Delhi), and the Slade School of Fine Art (London).

He currently serves as the Director General of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, where he plays an important role in promoting modern and contemporary art at the national and international level.

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian art, he was honoured with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, by the Government of India in the year 2025.

Adwaita Charan Gadanayak has created several important national sculptures and memorials. His notable works include the Mahatma Gandhi Salt March statue at Rajghat, the central memorial structure at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi, and the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the National War Memorial complex. His sculptures reflect a deep understanding of history, national identity, and artistic expression.