Anish Kapoor (born March 12, 1954, in Bombay [now Mumbai], India) is a British sculptor of Indian ancestry who is recognized for his use of abstract biomorphic forms, as well as his use of rich colors and polished surfaces. He was also the first living artist to have a solo exhibition at London’s Royal Academy of Arts.
Kapoor was born in India to Punjabi parents and Iraqi-Jewish grandparents. He went to Hornsey College of Art (1973–77) and Chelsea School of Art (1977–78) in London to study art. In 1979, he returned to India and gained new insights into the country where he was born. In works like 1000 Names, he used vivid paints and strong architectural forms to express these feelings. This series of abstract geometric forms were created between 1979 and 1980 and comprised of arrangements of loose powdered colors that flowed beyond the item and onto the floor or wall.