Gulam Rasool Santosh (1929-1997) was a prolific Indian artist of the Neo-Tantric movement, using abstraction and tantric imagery as a means of placing tantra philosophy into a contemporary visual context. He initially received a scholarship to study at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda for art focusing on figurative and landscape work, though always felt the pull to push against conventional movements. His definitive turning point for his abstract style occurred in the 1960s following an intellectual and spiritual pilgrimage to the Amarnath Cave in Kashmir. Inspired by the natural ice-formation of the Shiva Lingam and the tenets of Kashmiri Shaivism, Santosh began to evolve his artistic and poetic practice toward the metaphysical. Santosh utilized yantras to visually express complex philosophical teachings. These sacred geometric symbols serve as tools for meditation, characterized by rigorous linear and symmetrical compositions. His works are composed of concentric configurations including squares, circles, triangles, and lotus shapes which he employs to shed light on the interacting masculine (Shiva) and feminine (Shakti) energies of the cosmos. Through this balanced imagery, Santosh’s work represents a deeply personal exploration of consciousness, identity, and the universal spirit. His technical mastery and strong compositions have earned him widespread international acclaim. A three-time recipient of the Lalit Kala Akademi National Award (1957, 1963, 1973), he was also honored with the Padma Shri in 1977. His work was a cornerstone of the landmark Neo-Tantra exhibition at the UCLA Museum (1976) and is held in prestigious permanent collections worldwide, including the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi; the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; and the Peabody Essex Museum, Massachusetts. Notably, his work is a highlight of the esteemed Herwitz Collection, the premier archive of Modern Indian Art in the United States.