D. S. Kapoor

D. S. Kapoor (born 1954) is an Indian art historian and educator. He completed a bachelor of arts degree at Government College of Arts, Chandigarh (GCA) and began a career as a commercial artist. Later, he moved to art education, teaching at St. John's School. In 1990, he became a faculty member of the GCA, and served as the acting principal of the college from 2009 to 2012. After his retirement, he was appointed the dean of the Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts, and then as an Officer on Special Duty at the National Institute of Design, Kurukshetra.

Kapoor designed a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Chandigarh, to serve as an entrance to the annual Chandigarh Carnival. He authored a coffee table book on the GCA's 140-year history titled History and Heritage, Government College of Art (INDIA), which was released in 2018.

Early life and education Kapoor was born in 1954 in Gurgaon, Haryana. His father, Sujan Singh, was a faculty member at the Government College of Arts (GCA), Chandigarh. Kapoor completed his primary education at the Lady Irwin School, Shimla, and his secondary education at the Government Senior Secondary School. Though his father wanted him to pursue a career in architecture, Kapoor was interested in the arts. He was accepted into the GCA and graduated from the college with a national diploma degree in 1978. He later pursued a postgraduate diploma in public relations and advertising at the Dayanand College of Communication and Management.

Career Kapoor's first job was as an artist at the Central Government's Tractor Training Centre, where he painted signboards. He quit after a month and joined St. John's School as an art teacher. In 1982, he moved to the Department of Industries & Commerce, Haryana, as a commercial artist. He was instrumental in designing the industrial journal, Udyog Yog. In 1988, he designed a postage stamp to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the Bhakra Dam.

Kapoor designed a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Chandigarh, which was installed in the Leisure Valley to serve as an entrance to the annual Chandigarh Carnival. He also designed murals for the Delhi Metro. After his retirement as principal of the GCA in 2012, he was appointed dean of the Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak, a position he held until 2016. In the same year, he assumed the office of Officer on Special Duty at National Institute of Design, Kurukshetra. , he continues to serve as the president of Kala Maitri, the GCA alumni association, which he founded, and is an honorary member of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Academy.

Awards and honours 2002, 2005, 2008 – Award by Governor of Punjab-cum-administrators Chandigarh, on Independence Day and Republic Day 2004 – Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi award 2006 – First Friday Forum Prestigious Award for Creative Excellence 2008 – Special Award of Honour by the Vice Chancellor of Panjab University during World Punjabi Conference Tata Steel Selenium Award for Innovative Design