S. Nandagopal (1946-2017) was born in Bengaluru and trained at the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Chennai. The son of K. C. S. Paniker, he was closely associated with the Cholamandal Artists' Village, where he lived and worked.

Nandagopal is known for his distinctive metal sculptures, often crafted in copper and bronze, combining traditional techniques with a contemporary sensibility. His works frequently draw from mythology and folklore, presenting stylised figures and narrative forms with a playful yet structured approach.

He is regarded as an important figure in modern Indian sculpture, particularly for extending a lineage of modernist practice rooted in the Madras art movement.