Born in New Delhi in 1958, S. Harshavardhana is a self-taught contemporary artist whose practice is distinguished by its exploration of abstraction, symbolism, and surface. The son of the celebrated modernist Jagdish Swaminathan, he was exposed to art from an early age, although he initially pursued a career in science. After completing postgraduate studies in Biological Sciences at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, and working in senior management within the biomedical industry, he devoted himself entirely to painting in 1993.

Harshavardhana's works are characterised by richly textured surfaces and restrained colour palettes, through which he constructs a distinctive vocabulary of geometric forms and symbolic motifs. Drawing inspiration from tribal art and indigenous visual traditions, his compositions often feature intersecting triangular structures and layered fields of colour that suggest both harmony and tension. The interplay of texture, form, and spatial relationships creates paintings that are contemplative yet dynamic, inviting multiple interpretations.

His work has been presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions in India and internationally, including exhibitions in New Delhi, Singapore, New York, and California. Based in New Delhi, Harshavardhana continues to develop an abstract practice that bridges modernist sensibilities with enduring indigenous influences.