A method of classifying signals using non-linear sparse representations includes learning a plurality of non-linear dictionaries based on a plurality of training signals, each respective nonlinear dictionary corresponding to one of a plurality of class labels. A non-linear sparse coding process is performed on a test signal for each of the plurality of non-linear dictionaries, thereby associating each of the plurality of non-linear dictionaries with a distinct sparse coding of the test signal. For each respective non-linear dictionary included in the plurality of non-linear dictionaries, a reconstruction error is measured using the test signal and the distinct sparse coding corresponding to the respective non-linear dictionary. A particular nonlinear dictionary corresponding to a smallest value for the reconstruction error among the plurality of non-linear dictionaries is identified and a class label corresponding to the particular non-linear dictionary is assigned to the test signal.