S. Nandagopal was born in 1946 at
Bengaluru, in the south Indian state of
Karnataka to
K. C. S. Paniker, noted painter, a former principal of the
Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai and the founder of
Cholamandal Artists' Village. His under graduate studies were at
Loyola College, Chennai and after earning a bachelor's degree in physics in 1966 from the
University of Madras and joined the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai to secure a diploma in fine arts in 1971. He moved into Cholamandal Artists' Village, following his father, in 1972. His focus was in sculptures, mostly in copper and bronze, and he was known for large metal sculptures. Later, he also indulged in painting and wrote a book on his father, titled
Paniker, which is one of the few studies on K. C. C Paniker. His contributions were also reported in the establishment of an open-air theatre and the Museum of the Madras Art Movement at Cholamandal Nandagopal was married to Kala and the couple had a daughter, Pallavi. He died on 14 April 2017, at the age of 71, succumbing to a massive cardiac arrest, at his residence in Cholamandal Artists' Village. == Awards and honours ==