Jarnail Singh (1956 – 10 February 2025), also known as Jarnail Singh Artist, was a Sikh artist, illustrator, designer, photographer, and art-journalist. Originally from India, he was based out of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, where he created works documenting Indo-Canadian heritage and human rights activists. He was also an illustrator of books and magazines. He had authored over fifty articles covering art and culture.
Biography
India Jarnail Singh was born in Zira, Punjab, India in 1956. He was the son of Kirpal Singh.Singh, Kanika. “Punjab & Sind Bank and the Creation of Sikh Heritage.” The Story of a Sikh Museum: Heritage, Politics, Popular Culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2025. p. 28. Print. Retrieved on 16 May 2026 from: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/story-of-a-sikh-museum/punjab-sind-bank-and-the-creation-of-sikh-heritage/DD9546B509EB1117E57E4E54CB3FE3D3 He began his career by helping his father but gradually became an independent artist with him focused on depicting rural Punjab, portraits of Sikh rulers, and Sikh history. He desired to document traditional Punjabi culture in his paintings as he felt that it was disappearing. Many of his works depict Punjabi women. Jarnail Singh stated:
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Punjab University, Chandigarh. Throughout his career, he was patronised by the Punjab and Sind Bank, Central Sikh Museum, Baghel Singh Museum, Bank of Punjab, and the Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited. He was active in the Chandigarhian art scene and the Punjab Art Council. Jarnail's wife Baljit Kaur was also an artist. In 1991 and 1992, he visited England.
Canada In 1995, he first visited Canada. In 2000, he moved from India to Canada. In Canada, he was based in Surrey, Canada with him creating murals at Gurdwara Singh Sabha and the Komagata Maru Memorial in Surrey. On Vaisakhi 2003, the mural work he completed for the Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Surrey was unveiled. In 2015 he created a portrait of Mewa Singh for the 100th anniversary of his execution. His first exhibition in Canada was held in 2004. From 2004 to 2005, he established an artistic space. A permanent exhibition of ten Komagata Maru paintings by Jarnail Singh was inaugurated on 18 May 2016 by Justin Trudeau. Another exhibition in Canada of his was held in 2017. Some of his photographs were published in news periodicals. Some of his works are held in the Bhai Mati Das Museum. His work has been published in calendars, greeting cards and open edition prints. In 2020 he created artwork for a calendar commemorating 500th anniversary of Guru Nanak establishing the Sikh religion. In 2023, he produced a portrait of Desmond Tutu for an anti-racism calendar. His gallery Jarnail Arts was located at 106–12882 85 Avenue, Surrey. He was interviewed by OMNI Television in 2024. He also commemorated Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a portrait. Jarnail Singh died on 10 February 2025 at a Chandigarh hospital while visiting India. His death was commemorated by Punjab's Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Tarunpreet Singh Sond. He had been visiting India on an annual basis.
Awards
Achiever of the Year Award by International Punjabi Chamber of Commerce (2001) Daniel P. Izzard Medal by the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists First Civic Treasures Award by the City of Surrey (2008)
Exhibitions
Jarnail Singh – Discovering the Soul of Punjab, Surrey Art Gallery (2004) Held from 10 April – 13 June 2004 and curated by Liane Davison and Brian Foreman Harrison Arts Festival, Harrison Hot Springs (2005) From Across the Oceans, Langley Museum Punjabi Visions, Reach Gallery and Museum, Abbotsford From The Land of Five Rivers, Surrey Art Gallery three shows of his Komagatamaru Stories series at Surrey, Abbotsford, and Delta Art @ the Library, George Mackie Library, North Delta (1 March – 30 April 2022)
Bibliography
List of paintings
+List of paintings by Jarnail SinghName of paintingDescriptionYear of creationMediumReferencesHoly Men2001OilI Have Seen Life2001AcrylicStory of SikhismMural at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Surrey2004MuralSikh Warrior2005OilThe Poet2009OilThe New Necklace2010OilFall Splendor2011OilPortrait of Mewa Singh2015Portrait of Desmond Tutu2023
References
External links
Jarnail Singh's website