Sri Chinmoy created his own distinctive artistic style, which he named “Jharna-Kala”, meaning “Fountain-Art.” The source of inspiration for these acrylic abstracts was the profound stillness of contemplative consciousness, from which inner experiences flowed, reflected in his extensive body of work. This spontaneous artistic style, characterized by a balanced harmony of light and color, captures the inner insight of the moment—an insight that speaks of love for humanity, the experience of life’s harmony, a sense of beauty, and the joy of artistic creation. The artist himself describes his approach to creation as follows:

“While I paint, I do not use the mind, for the thinking process binds us. I keep nothing in my mind. I try to make it as empty, still, and quiet as possible. The mind is like the surface of the sea. On the surface, the sea is filled with waves and constant movement; it is all restlessness. But when we dive deep below the surface, the very same sea becomes all peace, calmness, and silence. It is there that we discover the true source of creativity.”

Sri Chinmoy’s extraordinary artistic style evolved with remarkable speed, fuelled by his inexhaustible creative energy. During the first year alone (1975), he produced more than 100,000 works of art, including 16,031 paintings completed during a single 24-hour painting marathon. His art is distinguished by its characteristic spontaneity and playfulness. Although he often painted with traditional brushes, he also created his own painting tools from cotton and pieces of sponge, enabling him to apply colour in unique and expressive ways.

Among Sri Chinmoy’s vast body of artistic work is the lyrical series of bird drawings entitled Dream-Freedom-Peace-Birds, one of the central motifs of his artistic expression. These graceful birds symbolically represent the soul—the eternal essence of human existence. Many of these delicate images are woven into large-scale, richly coloured mosaics, some containing several thousand birds within a single composition. Executed in a variety of media, including watercolour, gouache, pastel, and coloured pencil, these Zen-like drawings are remarkable for their simplicity, purity, and calligraphic elegance. They convey the uplifting touch of an aspiring consciousness, expressing an inner experience of happiness, peace, and freedom. Sri Chinmoy described this aspect of his creative work in these words:

“Birds have a very special significance—they embody freedom. Whenever we see a bird flying across the sky, it reminds us of our own inner freedom. Deep within each of us is our true inner reality in the form of the soul. And the soul, like a bird, flies through the inner sky of Infinity.”

Selected Major Exhibitions of Sri Chinmoy’s Art Around the World

  • 2017 United Nations, Palais des Nations / Geneva
  • 2008 European Parliament / Belgium
  • 2007 United Nations Secretariat Building / New York, USA
  • 2006 Kunstlerhaus Vienna / Austria
  • 2006 Miro Gallery / Prague, Czech Republic
  • 2006 Carrousel Du Louvre / Paris, France
  • 2006 UNESCO / Paris, France
  • 2005 Carrousel Du Louvre / Paris, France
  • 2005 Art Gallery / London, UK
  • 2004 Agung Rai Museum / Ubud, Bali
  • 2004 Diaghilev Art Center for the Museum of Modern Art at the Smolny Institute of Free Arts and Science / St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2004 Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre /Indian Embassy / Moscow, Russia
  • 2004 Museum of East And West / Odessa, Ukraine
  • 2004 Art Museum / Harkov, Ukraine
  • 2003 The Academy of Art and Science / Skopje, Macedonia
  • 2001 Town Hall / Reykjavik, Iceland
  • 2001 Oslo City Hall / Oslo, Norway
  • 2000 United Nations Secretariat Building / New York, USA
  • 1999 Empire State Building, Fifth Avenue Gallery / New York, USA
  • 1998 University of Washington / Seattle, USA
  • 1998 Il Saggiattore / Rome, Italy
  • 1997 Cambridge Central Library /UK
  • 1996 International Airport Ruzyně / Prague, Czech Republic
  • 1996 Val Arts Gallery / London, UK
  • 1995 Russell Rotunda / US Senate / Washington, DC
  • 1995 University of Adelaide /Australia
  • 1995 Senate Foyer, Parliament House / Canberra, Australia
  • 1995 Sydney Opera House / Sydney, Australia
  • 1994 The Mall Galleries /London, UK
  • 1993 John F. Kennedy International Airport / New York, USA
  • 1993 Museum of Modern Art / Manila, Filipines
  • 1993 Palais des Rols de Majorque / Perpignan, France
  • 1993 Shinjuku Kuritsu Kumin Citizen’s Gallery / Tokyo, Japan
  • 1993 Peace Osaka Hall / Osaka, Japan
  • 1992 The Espace Miro / UNESCO / Paris, France
  • 1991 Unison Gallery / New Paltz, USA
  • 1989 The State House / Boston, USA
  • 1989 Niska Gallery / Montreal, Canada
  • 1987 Oneness-World Gallery / Zurich, Switzerland
  • 1986 Gallerie in der Fasanen Strasse / Berlin, Germany
  • 1986 Horizon Gallery / London, UK
  • 1984 Centro de Bellas Artes / Maracaibo, Venezuela
  • 1983 Galery Scholossgasse / Zurich, Switzerland
  • 1980 Museum Alexander Koenig/ Bonn, Germany
  • 1980 National Arts Centre / Ottawa, Canada
  • 1979 National Visitors Center / Washington, USA
  • 1978 Commonwealth Institut / London, UK
  • 1978 Musee des Beaux-Arts / Montreal, Canada
  • 1978 Harvard University / Massachusetts, USA
  • 1977 Museum of Man / Ottawa, Canada
  • 1976 Carnegie Hall / New York, USA
  • 1975 OSN Secretary Building / New York, USA
  • 1975 Columbia University / New York, USA