Full Sikh Art Collection

Experience Sikh Heritage and History Through the Art of Kanwar Singh
  • Sikhism 1469

    Siri Guru Granth Sahib - The Abode of Nanak

    The Abode of Nanak is a reflection on our daily relationship with the spirit of the Sikh Gurus as distilled into the Siri Guru Granth, which Sikhs regard as their living Guru. Siri Guru Granth Sahib is an anthology not only of the sacred compositi...... Read More
  • First Guru 1469 - 1539

    Guru Nanak at Kartarpur

    This painting of Guru Nanak at Kartarpur is an artistic attempt to express the divine light manifested by Guru ji in his old age when he attracted many followers to sit alongside him in the wheat fields of Kartarpur. Looking at this art piece, we ...... Read More
  • Guru Nanak's Travels 1500 - 1524

    Guru Nanak’s Udasis

    Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the Sikh faith in rural Punjab during the mid 15th century. Discontent with the elusive values and hollow rituals of the Brahamanic Hindu tradition, he set forth on many journeys throughout his life to achieve a true unio...... Read More
  • 1500 - 1524

    Guru Nanak and His Companions (tonal)

    “Far from wife and son am I, far from land and wealth and other notions of that kind. I am the Witness, the Eternal, the Inner Self.” Guru Nanak Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the Sikh faith in rural Punjab during the mid 15th century. Discontent with...... Read More
  • Second Guru

    Guru Angad Dev Ji

    Guru Angad Sahib prepares to write the Gurmukhi alphabet Before he left his body, Guru Nanak Sahib passed on the Guruship of the Sikh Panth to Bhai Lehna. Lehna, through a series of tests, had proven his worth as the successor to Guru Nanak. Guru ...... Read More
  • Third Guru

    Guru Amar Das Ji

    Guru Amardas doing seva The Third Nanak, Guru Amar Das Sahib, before his ascension to the Guruship, spent twelve long years doing difficult selfless service in the free kitchens of Guru Angad Sahib. Though he was an old man when he encountered ...... Read More
  • Fourth Guru

    Guru Ram Das Ji

    Guru Ram Das Sahib, the fourth Nanak, founded the city of Amritsar, which is today the spiritual and political capital of the Sikh Panth Guru Ram Das Sahib came from humble beginnings. He was born Bhai Jetha, and was an orphan who sold food...... Read More
  • Adi Granth 1604

    Guru Arjan Dev Ji - Birth of the Adi Granth

    Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth in the line of Guru Nanak, presided over a time of many great new horizons for the young Sikh faith. Amritsar, which had been founded by his father Guru Ram Das Ji, was becoming a great social, political and religio...... Read More
  • 1663 - 1984

    Guru Hargobind – Lord of Miri Piri

    Guru Hargobind became the Guru of the Sikhs at the age of eleven after his father Guru Arjan was martyered on the orders of the mughal emporer in Jahangir. Guru Arjan forsaw the need for change in the Sikh panth. Guru Ajran’s last message to his s...... Read More
  • 1609 - present

    Sri Akal Takhat Sahib – Throne of the Almighty

    This painting illustrates what Sri Akal Takhat sahib, the central legacy of Guru Hargobind sahib our sixth Guru, means to the Sikh quam.  The artwork weaves the stories and imagery we relate to Guru Hargobind sahib, such as Bandhi Chhor and Miri ...... Read More
  • 1644

    Guru Har Rai – Jyot The Divine Light

    A painting of Guru Har Rai ji which speaks to the divine connection to Waheguru which manifested itself in all ten Guru Sahibs. Guru Har Rai ji, the seventh Guru continued the martial tradition begun by Guru Hargobind and continually kept a mounte...... Read More
  • Eighth Guru 1664

    The Guru’s Grace – Sri Guru Har Krishan

    Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji, became Guru at the age of five.  Despite the tenderness of his age, Guru Sahib continued the message of Shabad Guru to free humanity from the cycle of reincarnation.  He demonstrated that regardless of age, anyone can b...... Read More
  • Pillar of Peace

  • 1665

    Guru Tegh Bahadur - The Protector

    Guru Tegh Bahadur laid down his life in order to protect religious freedom for all India which was under the oppressive rule of Mughal emperor Aurunzeb, who wished to convert the entire land to Islam. According to the Guru, living a truly spiritua...... Read More
  • 1675

    Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Time

    Guru Tegh Bahadur laid down his life in order to protect religious freedom for all India which was under the oppressive rule of Mughal emperor Aurunzeb, who wished to convert the entire land to Islam. According to the Guru, living a truly spiritua...... Read More
  • 1675

    Gobind Rai’s Legacy

    Young Gobind Rai’s legacy began when he graciously accepted the head of his beloved father Guru Tegh Bahadur, beheaded on the orders of the fanatical emperor Aurunzab. Rather than fall into despair, the nine year old Guru, now blessed with the lig...... Read More
  • Vaisakhi 1699

    Vaisakhi 1699 Birth of the Khalsa

    On the day of Vaisakhi in 1699 at Anandpur, the Sikh faith underwent its greatest transformation. Guru Gobind Rae, son of the martyred ninth master, Guru Tegh Bahadur had come to the realization that his Sikhs must adapt or perish in these perilou...... Read More
  • Vaisakhi 1699

    Mata Sahib Kaur - Mother of the Khalsa

    Just as Guru Gobind Singh Sahib is considered the father of the Sikh nation, Mata Sahib Kaur is considered its mother. A remarkable young woman, Mata Sahib Kaur was a born leader who took her role as symbolic mother of the Sikhs very seriously. ...... Read More
  • Formation of the Khalsa 1699

    Guru Gobind Singh – Master and Disciple

    Vaisakhi, 1699 CE, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, Mughal India: In the dark days of human bigotry, oppression and suffering, Guru Gobind created a universal order of men and women to stand up to tyrants and nurture the good. Guru Gobind Singh started the...... Read More
  • 1699

    Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj

    Guru Gobind Singh ji, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, was born into this world to protect the righteous saints and to stand against evil tyranny. Under the oppressive mughal occupation of 17th century India, the Sikhs alone remained as a wellspring of...... Read More
  • Battle of Anandpur 1700

    Bhai Bachittar Singh (Tonal)

    Bhai Bachittar Singh, a warrior under Guru Gobind Singh, was a brave hero who drove a spear into the head of an elephant at the Battle of Anandpur. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and a small number of Sikhs were defending their position in Lohgarh fort ...... Read More
  • Battle of Anandpur 1700

    Bachittar Singh – Saint Soldier

    Bhai Bachittar Singh, a warrior under Guru Gobind Singh, was a brave hero who drove a spear into the head of an elephant at the Battle of Anandpur. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and a small number of Sikhs were defending their position in Lohgarh fort ...... Read More
  • 1705

    Baba Ajit Singh – The Khalsa Charge

    The Story Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji The eldest son of the tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In the prolonged siege of Anandpur in 1705, Sahibzada Ajit Singh displayed his qualities of courage and steadfastness. When, at last, Anandpur was vacated ...... Read More
  • Battle of Chumkaur 1705

    Baba Jujhar Singh

    Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji Second eldest son of the tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. At the battle of Chumkaur on 6 Dec 1705, Guru Gobind Singh, his two son’s Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh and 40 loyal Sikhs defended themselves in a smal...... Read More
  • 1705

    Guru Gobind Singh – The Siege of Chamkaur

    Guru Gobind Singh Ji – The Siege of Chamkaur The tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji – Leaving Chamkaur with valour During the Battle of Chamkaur, a small number of Sikhs were left in the Fort of Chamkaur with Siri Guru Gobind SIngh Ji. Fighting pa...... Read More
  • 1705

    Chhotey Sahibzadey

    Chhotey Sahibzadey The two youngest sons of the tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were the youngest of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons, aged only 7 and 5 when they and their grandmother Mata Gujri were imprisoned by the t...... Read More
  • 1705

    Mittar Pyare Nu

    In the course of the long and fierce battle at Chamkaur in 1705, Guru Gobind Singh ji had blessed his two eldest sons and many followers before they attained martyrdom for the Sikh faith.  He was separated from his Sikh disciples and finally took ...... Read More
  • Battle of Muktsar 1705

    Mai Bhago and the Chaali Muktey

    Mai Bhag Kaur (Mai Bhago) was the inspiration behind the bravery of the martyrs known as the Chaali Muktey – the Liberated Forty – who died in the Battle of Muktsar (1705). She is best remembered as a valiant military commander and one of the elit...... Read More
  • 1708

    The Eternal Guru

    In 1708, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, having consciously witnessed the sacrifice of the lives of all his four sons, handed over the legacy of the Guruship to the Shabad Guru, embodied in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. He understoo...... Read More
  • 1708

    Gurgaddi Siri Guru Granth Sahib

    In 1708, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, having consciously witnessed the sacrifice of the lives of all his four sons, handed over the legacy to the Guruship of the Shabad Guru, embodied in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. He understoo...... Read More
  • 1715

    Banda Singh Bahadur - Sava Lakh Khalsa

    “I will tell you, whenever men become so corrupt and wicked as to relinquish the path of equity and to abandon themselves to all kinds of excesses, then the Providence never fails to raise up a scourge like me to chastise a race so depraved; When...... Read More
  • 1753

    Baba Deep Singh Shaheed

      Baba Deep Singh ji is one of the most honored martyrs known to Sikh history and his life is intimately woven with the tenth master, Guru Gobind Singh ji. He belonged to the order of Akali Nihungs whose origins are ascribed to Guru Gobind Singh i...... Read More
  • Sarbat Khalsa

    During the turbulent 18th century, with the gradual collapse of the Mughal Empire and constant incursions by Afghan invaders into India, Sikhs became the de facto defenders of Punjab. During this period, Sikhs would congregate twice a year on Vais...... Read More
  • Akali (red chalk sketch)

    Akali is derived from the gurbani term Akaal Pururk "The Timeless One", a term for God, thus an Akali is the "Servitor of the Timeless God”. This also reflects the idea of Akalis as the "Immortals" or the timeless warriors. The Akalis have histori...... Read More
  • Akali Nihang

    The order of the Nihangs, a fiercely independent vangaurd of the Khalsa army is said to date back to the time of Guru Arjan and the formation of the Akal Sena. However, Guru Gobind Singh is generally credited for morphing the Akal Sena (Immortal a...... Read More
  • First World War

    1914 - 1918


    Stand on Guard for Thee

    In “Stand on Guard for Thee” artist Kanwar Singh focuses on the role of Sikhs during World War One. Sikh soldiers participated in most of the key battles of the Great War, whether in the trenches of France, or the deserts of Mesopotamia. To mark t...... Read More
  • 1995

    Jaswant Singh Khalra – The Witness

    This painting chronicles the life's work of human rights activist Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra and the events of the bloody decade (1984 -1995) in Punjab. It depicts how government forces operated with complete impunity to end the Khalistan moveme...... Read More
  • Kirtani Jatha

    Kirtan is the devotional singing of praise as expressed in the hymns and compositions of Sikh scripture. Adoration expressed in song is considered by Sikhs to be the highest form of devotion, unsurpassed as the way to overcome the effect of ego an...... Read More