Latika Katt, born in March 1948, was a trained sculptor specializing in stone carving, metal casting, and bronze sculpting.
She began her education at the all-boys Doon School in Dehradun and later earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Banaras Hindu University, where she was the first female student to graduate with a gold medal in sculpture. In 1971, she completed her Master’s degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts at M.S. University, Baroda. In 1981, she received a research scholarship from the Slade School of Art in London to further her studies in sculpture and lithography.
She taught at Banaras Hindu University (1979-1985) and Jamia Millia Islamia University, where she was appointed Head Sculptor between 2002-2010. She has exhibited widely internationally, including the Paris Biennale; the Fukukoka Museum, Japan; Triennale-India; and the International Biennale (Turkey).
Her initial artistic sensibilities were influenced by her father, a botanist, who encouraged her to observe nature closely during their trekking expeditions in Dehradun. Heavily influenced by Auguste Rodin, she explored themes of existence in her work. Katt has utilized a variety of materials, from stone, marble, and bronze to more sustainable materials like paper and cow dung. For Katt, the physical act of creating art is deeply connected to transforming her emotional experiences into visual form.
Katt lived and worked in Varanasi. She passed away on 25 January 2025.