Mahesh Lonkar is an Indian visual artist and photographer whose practice brings together photography, cultural documentation, and a longstanding engagement with visual design. Trained in Fine Art at Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya, Pune, Mahesh has worked professionally as a visual designer in the automotive industry, specialising in human-machine interface and UI/UX design.

Photography has been central to his creative practice for more than a decade. After beginning his career in design, Mahesh returned to image-making in 2013, using photography to pursue his interest in culture and travel. His photographic work has focused particularly on India's festivals, pilgrimages, and cultural traditions, including the Pandharpur Wari Palkhi Festival, which he has documented over a sustained period.

His work has been exhibited through platforms including the National Centre for the Performing Arts, the Photography Society of India at Jehangir Art Gallery, the Indian Photography Festival, and the Sakal Social Foundation's exhibition on the Indrayani to Chandrabhaga Palkhi Festival. His recognitions include the Government of India's National Photography Award, a Gold Medal from the Photography Society of India, and a Gold Medal from the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award. He was also shortlisted by the Sony World Photography Organisation.

Alongside photography and design, Mahesh maintains a collection of more than 1,000 flashlights, tracing the evolution of their design and technology. His long-term ambition, as stated in his submission, is to establish a museum dedicated to this collection.