HEADS – Every Face Holds a Story Opens at Triveni Kala Sangam with 25 Acclaimed Artists

A major group exhibition titled HEADS – Every Face Holds a Story will open at Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, from 17 to 23 September 2026, bringing together works by some of India’s most recognised modern and contemporary artists. Presented by Nayan Naveli Gallery and curated by Amrita Kochhar, the exhibition examines the human head and face as visual expressions of identity, memory, emotion and experience.

Exploring the Human Face Beyond Portraiture

The exhibition is built around the idea that the human face can communicate far more than physical appearance. According to curator Amrita Kochhar, the project seeks to move beyond conventional portraiture and examine how artists interpret thought, emotion and personal histories through facial forms and expressions.

Rather than presenting a single visual approach, the exhibition brings together artists from different generations and artistic traditions, allowing viewers to encounter multiple interpretations of a shared subject. Some works draw from realism and portraiture, while others engage with abstraction, symbolism and imaginative narratives.

A Gathering of Established and Contemporary Voices

HEADS features an extensive roster of artists including Anjolie Ela Menon, Arpana Caur, Jatin Das, Jayasri Burman, Jogen Chowdhury, K. Laxma Goud, Krishen Khanna, Nayanaa Kanodia, Rameshwar Broota, Sakti Burman, Thota Vaikuntam and several other senior and contemporary practitioners.

The exhibition highlights how artists working across different mediums and aesthetic traditions continue to engage with the human figure and face as enduring subjects within Indian art. Several participating artists have built distinguished careers through national and international exhibitions, contributing significantly to the development of modern and contemporary Indian art.

Highlights of the Exhibition

• Works by leading modern and contemporary Indian artists
• New artworks created specifically for the exhibition
• Diverse approaches ranging from realism to abstraction
• Interpretations of identity, memory, imagination and emotion
• Rare opportunity to view multiple generations of artists in a single exhibition

New Works Created for the Show

One of the notable aspects of the exhibition is the inclusion of artworks produced specifically for HEADS. These newly created pieces will be shown alongside selected works that reflect the established visual languages of participating artists.

This combination of fresh commissions and carefully chosen works aims to provide visitors with a broader understanding of how artists continue to revisit and reinterpret the human face across different stages of their careers.

Nayan Naveli Gallery and Curatorial Vision

The exhibition has been conceived and curated by gallerist Amrita Kochhar, whose recent curatorial projects have focused on thematic group exhibitions bringing together established and emerging artists. Earlier in 2026, Nayan Naveli Gallery presented Rhythms of Black & White, another curated exhibition exploring artistic expression through a restricted visual palette.

Through HEADS, Kochhar seeks to create a dialogue between generations of artists while examining a subject that remains central to artistic practice across cultures and periods.

Venue and Cultural Context

The exhibition will be held at Shridharani Gallery, located within Triveni Kala Sangam, one of Delhi’s longstanding cultural centres. Founded as a multidisciplinary arts institution, Triveni Kala Sangam has played an important role in supporting visual arts, music, dance and cultural education in the capital. The complex houses several galleries and regularly hosts exhibitions by both established and emerging artists.

Shridharani Gallery itself has served as a venue for numerous contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events, making it a familiar destination for artists, collectors and art enthusiasts.

A Tribute Through Art

The exhibition is also dedicated to the memory of Late Dr. Manjit Kochhar, mother of Amrita Kochhar. An eminent medical professional known for her commitment to charity and community service, Dr. Kochhar’s life and values form an important personal context for the project.

The inaugural ceremony will take place on 17 September 2026 from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm, while the exhibition will remain open daily from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm until 23 September 2026.

For visitors, HEADS offers an opportunity to encounter diverse artistic perspectives centred on one of the most enduring subjects in art. By bringing together celebrated masters, senior practitioners and contemporary voices, the exhibition creates a space for reflection on identity, memory and human experience while continuing New Delhi’s active engagement with visual culture.