Ghulam Rasool Santosh also known as G.R. Santosh was born in 1929 in Kashmir.

From 1947 - 1953, he was a self-taught artist.

In 1950 he joined the Progressive Art Association (PAA) in Kashmir. In 1954 - 1956 he won the Government Scholarship to study Fine Arts under N.S. Bendre at the M. S. University in Baroda.

Santosh had several solo exhibitions in India and overseas:
In 1953 - 1956, 1963 and 1974 he exhibited solo in Srinagar. In 1953, 1957, 1959, 1962 and 1964 he exhibited solo in Mumbai. In 1962 he exhibited solo at Gallery Mayer, New York; Kumar Gallery, Kolkata; Kabul; Tel Aviv, Turkey; Los Angeles and Chicago. In 1968 and 1969 he exhibited solo in Mumbai. In 1989 he had a solo exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai. In 1964 he had a solo show in New York. In 1978 he had a solo in South Korea. In 1983 he had a solo in Seoul. In 1967, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1985, 1991 and 1994 he had solo exhibitions in New Delhi. In 1980 he had a joint show with artist Om Prakash at Lalit Kala Akademi Gallery, New Delhi.

Santosh participated in several group exhibitions in India and overseas:
In 1959 he took part in a group show at Museum Folkwang, Essen Stadtische Kunsthalle, Zurich. In 1959 he took part in 'Modern Indian Art' in Cairo. In 1961 he participated in a group show at National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. In 1961 he participated in Paris Biennale. In 1965 he took part in Mainichi Biennale, Japan. In 1963-1964 he exhibited at Long Beach Art Centre in San Francisco; East - West Centre in Honolulu; Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, Colorado Springs, New Orleans, Jacksonville and University of South Florida in Tampa. In 1965 he took part in 'Ten Contemporary Painters' at New Jersey State Museum in New Jersey. In 1963, 1969 and 1972 he participated at Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil. In 1968, 1978 and 1982 he took part in the First, Fourth and Fifth International Triennale at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. In 1973 he participated in the National Exhibition at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. In 1971 he participated in group shows in Japan, Montreal and Los Angeles. In 1972 he participated at Cannes, France. In 1973 he had a group exhibition in Washington DC, USA. In 1977 he participated in Bulgaria International Art Exhibition in Bulgaria. In 1980 he took part in group shows (organised by Lalit Kala Academy) in Japan, New Delhi and Dubai. In 1982 he exhibited at Royal Academy of Art in London and Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden at Washington DC, USA. In 1983 he participated in ‘Tantra’ at Stuttgart, West Germany and in South Korea. In 1984 he exhibited in group shows at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. In 1985 - 1986 he participated in a group show at University of California in Los Angeles, USA. In 1988 he showcased in Tokyo and participated in the Second National Biennale at Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal. In 1992 he took part in group show at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai.

Santosh received several awards:
In 1956, he received a prize from Governor of Bombay. In 1957, 1964 and 1973 he won National Award from Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. In 1977 he was conferred the Padmashree by the Government of India, New Delhi. In 1979 he received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his collection of poems. In 1984 he was selected Artist of the Year by Sahitya Kala Parishad, New Delhi. In 1991 he received Kala Ratna Award from All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi. In 1997 Santosh was honoured with posthumous citation for 'extraordinary contribution in the field of Art and Literature' by Government of Jammu and Kashmir and he was honoured a Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt.) by the University of Jammu.

In 1997 Santosh passed away in New Delhi.

Santosh was exhibited posthumously in India and overseas.
In 2003 and 2004 he was exhibited in Mumbai. In 2005 he was showcased in New Delhi, California and New York. In 2007 and 2008 he was showcased in New Delhi; Aicon Gallery, New York; Bangalore, Jordan and Spain. In 2009 he was exhibited at Museum of Fine Art in Boston. In 2010 he was exhibited in New Delhi and Aicon Gallery, London. In 2011 he was showcased in New Delhi and Singapore. In 2012 and 2013 he was exhibited in New Delhi. In 2015 he was exhibited in 'Abby Grey and Indian Modernism: Selections from the NYU Art Collection' at Grey Art Gallery, New York University, New York.