Ram Kumar was born in Simla in 1924.The artist completed his Masters in Econimics from St. Stephens College. Delhi University and began his art education in the evening classes of Sarada Ukil School of Art, New Delhi, where he learnt the Western Style of painting under Sailoz Mookherjea. Around 1948, he joined the Shilpi Chakra group of artists in Delhi. In 1950, he left for Paris with fellow artists S.H. Raza and Akbar Padamsee. By the mid-fifties, he became one of Indias emerging young painter.

The artist received the national award in 1956 and 1958, and was awarded the Padma Shri by the Indian government in 1971. Besides being a visual artist of repute, ram Kumar was also a creative Hindi writer.

Known for his abstract landscapes, the intensity of colors in his works adds a touch of reality in his art.