Ram Kumar was born in Simla in 1924. In 1946, he completed graduation in economics from St Stephen’s College in New Delhi. He also joined Sarada Ukil School of Art in New Delhi to study art. Between 1949 and 1952, he studied painting in Paris under the tutelage of Fernard Leger and Andre Lohte.

Some of his notable solo exhibitions were held in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, Simla (1949); Alliance Francaise, Bombay, now Mumbai (1953); Grosvenor Gallery, London (1966); Arks Gallery, London (1997); Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai (2005).

He also participated in group exhibitions organized by Delhi Shilpi Chakra, New Delhi (1952); National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai (1996); Aicon Gallery, New York (2008) among others.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1972 and Padma Bhushan in 2010.

The artist passed away in 2018.