A journey spanning several decades of artistic exploration will be presented through Chronicles in Colour: A Retrospective Exhibition by Samir Sharma, curated by Neena Gulati, at LTC Gallery, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi. Scheduled from 19 to 23 November 2026, the exhibition will trace the creative journey of self-taught artist and architect Samir Sharma, bringing together his paintings, distinctive felt-pen technique and experiences in architecture and writing. The exhibition will remain open to visitors daily from 11 am to 7 pm.
An Artistic Journey That Began at the Age of Eleven
Samir Sharma’s interest in painting began when he was just eleven years old. One of his early works, Ship in Stormy Sea, received recognition, marking the beginning of a creative journey that would continue alongside his professional education and architectural career.
Even while pursuing his studies in architecture at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, Sharma continued to explore painting. His interest in visual expression developed alongside his academic pursuits, allowing him to bring together his understanding of design, observation and artistic composition.
His early paintings, some of which date back to 1956, form an important part of the retrospective. These works also preserve personal memories of his school years, with some carrying remarks and signatures from his teachers. Their inclusion offers an opportunity to understand the beginnings of an artist whose creative practice has evolved over several decades.
The Evolution of Feltpenillism
An important turning point in Sharma’s artistic journey came during a vacation in Shimla while he was studying at IIT Kharagpur. It was during this visit that he discovered the possibilities of using felt pens as an alternative to conventional paintbrushes.
He subsequently named this distinctive approach Feltpenillism. His first felt-pen painting, Mallital Bus Stand, Nainital, went on to win a prize, encouraging him to continue experimenting with the medium.
Through Feltpenillism, Sharma transformed an everyday stationery material into an individual artistic medium. His works demonstrate how felt pens can be used to create intricate compositions through careful attention to detail, colour and visual arrangement.
The technique draws inspiration from the spirit of experimentation associated with Pointillism, an approach to painting introduced by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac in the mid-1880s. While Pointillism developed through the use of individual dots of colour, Sharma’s Feltpenillism explores the creative possibilities of felt pens to achieve detailed visual effects.
His body of work titled Feltpenillism Journey reflects this sustained experimentation and the development of a personal artistic vocabulary. The retrospective will trace this journey, highlighting how a simple artistic discovery gradually became a defining feature of his practice.
The Intersection of Art and Architecture
Alongside his artistic pursuits, Sharma has maintained a professional career as an architect. His dual engagement with art and architecture forms an important aspect of the exhibition, bringing together two disciplines that share an interest in space, observation, composition and visual communication.
His architectural experience has also provided opportunities to apply his artistic abilities to professional projects. One example mentioned in the press note is the Memorial cum Tourist Centre in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, which was scheduled to be opened by the then President of India.
For this project, Sharma prepared presentation drawings using his skills in photography and visualisation. He documented the site and created visuals of the proposed scheme within its surrounding landscape, highlighting its picturesque hilly setting and location beside the riverbank. His contribution to the project was duly acknowledged.
Such experiences demonstrate how Sharma’s artistic sensibility has extended beyond painting into architectural presentation and documentation. The exhibition seeks to bring these different aspects of his professional and creative life together.
Painter Kahani: Preserving a Lifetime of Creative Work
Another significant element connected with the retrospective is the book Painter Kahani – A Painter’s Journey. The publication documents Sharma’s development as a self-taught artist and professional architect, presenting his artistic achievements alongside anecdotes from his architectural career.
The book preserves his original artistic works dating back to 1956, when he was eleven years old. It also includes paintings arranged in chronological sequence, allowing readers to follow the progression of his artistic practice over time.
Beyond documenting his paintings, the publication explores the experiences behind some of his landmark architectural projects. Rather than presenting them merely as professional records, the narrative uses personal anecdotes and observations to provide a broader understanding of the circumstances surrounding their development.
Profusely illustrated with images of Sharma’s paintings, the book offers a visual record of his creative evolution. It also reflects the relationship between his experiences as an architect, his artistic interests and his approach to storytelling.
Exhibition Highlights and Visitor Information
Chronicles in Colour brings together different dimensions of Sharma’s creative journey, presenting his artistic practice within the wider context of architecture and writing.
Some of the key aspects explored through the retrospective include:
- Early artistic works: Paintings from Sharma’s childhood, including Ship in Stormy Sea, which marked an early achievement in his artistic journey.
- Feltpenillism: Detailed compositions created using felt pens, reflecting his experimentation with an unconventional medium.
- Artistic development: Works tracing the evolution of his visual language across several decades.
- Architecture and visualisation: Experiences from his professional career, including the Memorial cum Tourist Centre project in Pasighat.
- Literary documentation: The connection between his paintings, architectural experiences and the book Painter Kahani – A Painter’s Journey.
Event Details
| Event | Details |
| Title | Chronicles in Colour: A Retrospective Exhibition |
| Artist | Samir Sharma |
| Curator | Neena Gulati |
| Venue | LTC Gallery, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi, India |
| Opening Date | 19 November 2026 |
| Exhibition Dates | 19–23 November 2026 |
| Timings | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
Bringing Art, Architecture and Storytelling Together
By presenting the artistic and professional journey of Samir Sharma, Chronicles in Colour offers a perspective on how creative expression can develop through experimentation and engagement with different disciplines. His practice demonstrates how an unconventional medium can become a distinctive artistic language through sustained exploration.
The retrospective also highlights the relationship between art and architecture, showing how visual thinking can extend across painting, design, documentation and storytelling. For visitors, it offers an opportunity to engage with the work of a self-taught artist whose creative journey has evolved alongside a professional architectural career, while contributing to a wider appreciation of interdisciplinary approaches to art and cultural expression.
