Traditional storytelling takes on new forms at Kausalyam 2026, where centuries-old craft practices are presented through both immersive technology and live performance. Organised by the Crafts Council of Telangana, the programme features an Augmented Reality (AR) experience based on the Cheriyal Scroll tradition alongside Sita Anveshana, a contemporary leather puppet performance inspired by the Nimmalakunta puppetry tradition of Andhra Pradesh.
Cheriyal Scroll Meets Augmented Reality
The AR installation presents Virataparvam through the traditional Cheriyal Scroll, enhanced with animation, sound, and movement. Visitors can scan the artwork using their devices to experience the narrative in an interactive format, combining Telangana’s storytelling heritage with digital technology.
The installation will be open throughout 15 and 16 July 2026 at Anvaya Convention, Financial District, Hyderabad.
Sita Anveshana – A Contemporary Leather Puppet Performance
On Wednesday, 15 July 2026 at 4:00 PM, audiences can watch Sita Anveshana, a contemporary performance inspired by the traditional Nimmalakunta leather puppetry of Andhra Pradesh.
Presented by the Crafts Council of Telangana, the performance draws on a long-standing folk tradition while offering a contemporary interpretation through storytelling and handcrafted puppetry.
Event Details
Event
Details
Name
Kausalyam 2026
Venue
Anvaya Convention, Financial District
City
Hyderabad
Date
15–16 July 2026
Time
AR Experience: All Day (15 & 16 July); Sita Anveshana: 15 July 2026, 4:00 PM
Visitors can attend the AR experience across both event days, while the Sita Anveshana performance is scheduled for 15 July 2026 at 4:00 PM.
Final Thoughts
Kausalyam 2026 presents traditional storytelling through both digital technology and live performance. By featuring the Cheriyal Scroll AR experience alongside Sita Anveshana, the programme offers visitors an opportunity to engage with regional craft traditions in contemporary formats.
An All India Art Exhibition titled “Stroke by Stroke“, organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra, will be held from 12 to 18 July 2026 at the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata. The exhibition marks an important cultural initiative by the institution as it celebrates 70 years of promoting Indian art, music, dance, and culture. Visitors will have the opportunity to view works by several renowned Indian artists alongside paintings by emerging and established artists from different parts of the country. The inauguration is scheduled for Sunday, 12 July 2026, at 4:00 PM at the Central Gallery.
Celebrating Seven Decades of Cultural Service
Established in 1956, Pracheen Kala Kendra has played a significant role in preserving and promoting Indian classical arts through education, exhibitions, performances, and examinations. Headquartered in Chandigarh, the institution has built a nationwide network supporting artists and students in music, dance, and fine arts. Today, it continues to organise exhibitions and cultural programmes that encourage artistic exchange across India.
Exhibition Features Works by Acclaimed Masters
The exhibition will showcase artworks by several celebrated artists including Abanindranath Tagore, Ganesh Haloi, Bijon Chowdhury, Bipin Goswami, Niranjan Pradhan, Suktisubhra Pradhan, Sunil Das, Prakash Karmakar, Amita Roy Chowdhury, Dhiraj Chowdhury, Wasim R. Kapoor, Jahar Dasgupta, Baharuddin, and many other distinguished artists from across India.
Highlights of the exhibition include:
Paintings by eminent Indian masters
Works by established contemporary artists
Participation from artists representing different regions of India
A diverse range of artistic styles and themes
The exhibition aims to present a broad overview of contemporary Indian visual art while also acknowledging the legacy of influential artists whose work has shaped the country’s artistic landscape.
A Venue with a Long Artistic Legacy
The exhibition will be hosted across the Central, South and New South Galleries of the Academy of Fine Arts, one of Kolkata’s best-known cultural institutions. Over the decades, the venue has hosted exhibitions by leading Indian artists and has remained an important destination for painters, sculptors and art enthusiasts. Its central location and established exhibition spaces make it a regular venue for national and regional art events.
Opening Ceremony and Visitor Information
The inaugural ceremony will take place on:
Event
Details
Event Name
Stroke by Stroke – All India Art Exhibition
Artists
Featuring Abanindranath Tagore, Ganesh Haloi, Bijon Chowdhury, Sunil Das, Prakash Karmakar and many other eminent and contemporary artists.
The exhibition will remain open until 18 July 2026, with visiting hours from 12:00 Noon to 8:00 PM daily.
Visitors can explore artworks displayed across the Academy’s Central, South and New South galleries during the exhibition period.
Continuing Support for Indian Artists
According to the organisers, “Stroke by Stroke” is intended to provide a platform where senior masters and contemporary artists can be presented together before a wider audience. Pracheen Kala Kendra has consistently organised cultural programmes, exhibitions and educational initiatives that support artistic practice while encouraging public engagement with Indian classical and visual arts. The institution continues to expand its activities through regional centres across the country.
Final Thoughts
“Stroke by Stroke” reflects the continuing importance of collective art exhibitions in bringing together artists from different generations and regions. By presenting works from renowned masters alongside contemporary practitioners, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to experience the diversity of Indian visual art. As Pracheen Kala Kendra celebrates its 70-year journey, the exhibition also highlights the role cultural institutions continue to play in preserving artistic traditions while encouraging new creative voices.
The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Bengaluru, will host Art, Perception & the Subconscious, a five-day laboratory that brings together discussions and creative experiences centred on the relationship between art, perception, the subconscious and personal transformation.
Designed as an immersive learning programme, the laboratory encourages sustained participation across all five days to provide a complete experience.
Event Overview
Running from 15 to 19 July 2026, the programme invites participants aged 20 years and above to engage with ideas that connect artistic practice with perception and self-reflection.
The sessions combine conversations with creative activities, creating opportunities to examine how art can influence ways of seeing, thinking and responding to the world.
What Participants Can Expect
Participants can expect:
Guided discussions on art, perception and the subconscious
Creative and reflective experiences
Conversations around personal transformation through art
Opportunities for collaborative learning
An immersive five-day format designed as a continuous experience
The organisers recommend attending all five sessions to benefit fully from the programme.
Event Details
Event
Details
Name
Art, Perception & the Subconscious
Venue
NGMA Bengaluru
City
Bengaluru
Date
15–19 July 2026
Time
11:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Organiser
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Bengaluru
Entry / Registration
Free registration; limited to 20 participants; ages 20+
The laboratory will be held daily from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, from 15–19 July 2026, at NGMA Bengaluru.
Participation is free, but registration is required. The programme is limited to 20 participants, making early registration advisable.
Takeaway
Art, Perception & the Subconscious offers a structured space for discussion, reflection and creative engagement. The five-day format provides participants with the opportunity to explore connections between artistic practice, perception and personal experience through a series of guided sessions.
Art Explore is presenting The Self, Speaking, a group exhibition featuring six women artists whose works examine ideas of identity, memory, observation, and the experience of contemporary life. Opening with a preview on 1 July at 12 pm, the exhibition will remain on view from 2 July to 18 July at the gallery’s space in Panchsheel Park, New Delhi. Working across sculpture, painting, charcoal, abstraction, and mixed media, the exhibition explores how personal identity is continually shaped by everyday experiences and changing social realities. The exhibition also includes a poetry reading by artist Preeti Singh during the preview, extending the dialogue between visual art and literature.
Six Artistic Voices Explore the Many Dimensions of Selfhood
Remembrance Oil on Wood 12X12 inches 2024 Avani Bakaya
Each participating artist approaches the central theme through a distinct visual language while sharing a broader interest in the evolving nature of selfhood.
Participating artists include:
Mansha Bedi
Avani Bakaya
Nisha Manavi
Sangeeta Grover
Sangeeta Singh
Shivani Garg
Mansha Bedi creates fragmented terracotta and plaster figures that examine the body as a site of observation and social commentary. Avani Bakaya paints intimate interiors in oil, depicting moments of solitude, memory, and reflection. Nisha Manavi considers identity through traces and impressions left behind over time. Sangeeta Grover transforms Delhi’s architectural landscape of wires, windows, and grills into layered acrylic compositions. Sangeeta Singh presents familiar surroundings within surreal settings where solitude exists even among crowds, while Shivani Garg uses pastel abstraction to visualise thought and emotional movement.
Although all six participants are women artists, The Self, Speaking looks beyond representation to consider the complexities of interior life. Rather than presenting a singular narrative, the exhibition explores how identity is assembled through memory, relationships, social expectations, and lived experience.
The participating artists employ a range of materials-including terracotta, plaster, oil, acrylic, charcoal, and mixed media to demonstrate how medium itself becomes part of the conversation around selfhood. Together, their works invite viewers to reflect on personal experience while recognising broader contemporary conditions.
Art Explore Continues its Focus on Contemporary Art
shivani garg, meditation in blue, 36 inches dia, 2026
Founded in 2016, Art Explore has established itself as a contemporary gallery supporting emerging, mid-career, and established artists through long-term collaborations. The gallery’s programme frequently addresses themes of identity, memory, environment, and belonging across painting, sculpture, installation, and mixed media. It is led by founder and director Reshma Chordia, whose curatorial approach emphasises sustained artistic engagement and accessibility.
Previous exhibitions organised by the gallery have similarly explored questions of gender and identity, including HER, a group exhibition highlighting diverse artistic practices by women artists.
More information is available on the gallery’s official website at www.artexplore.in and through its Instagram page at @artexplore.
Conclusion
By bringing together six distinct artistic practices, The Self, Speaking offers a thoughtful examination of identity as something continually shaped by memory, experience, and social context. Through painting, sculpture, abstraction, and mixed media, the exhibition encourages viewers to reflect on both personal and collective experiences. It also reinforces Art Explore’s ongoing commitment to presenting contemporary Indian art that engages with meaningful cultural conversations.
IN BLOOM – A Journey through Five Decades of Shipra Bhattacharya is a solo exhibition celebrating the artist’s five-decade practice. The exhibition reflects an artistic journey shaped by reflection, resistance, and a sustained engagement with the world. The exhibition opens with a preview on 14 July 2026 at 6:00 PM at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity.
Exhibition Overview
The exhibition traces the evolution of Shipra Bhattacharya’s artistic practice over five decades. Bringing together works from different phases of her career, IN BLOOM highlights an artistic journey marked by sustained reflection and engagement with contemporary realities.
The preview evening will be held in the gracious presence of Agnimitra Paul and Rudra Chatterjee. The exhibition is presented by Ambica Beri and Richa Agarwal.
Visitors will have an opportunity to explore a curated presentation of works spanning five decades of the artist’s career. The exhibition offers insight into the development of Shipra Bhattacharya’s visual language and artistic concerns while celebrating an enduring creative practice.
Event Details
Event
Details
Name
IN BLOOM – A Journey through Five Decades of Shipra Bhattacharya
11:00 AM–7:00 PM (Preview: 14 July 2026, 6:00 PM)
Organiser
Presented by Ambica Beri and Richa Agarwal
Conclusion
IN BLOOM offers visitors an opportunity to engage with the work of one of India’s significant contemporary artists through an exhibition that reflects five decades of artistic practice. The exhibition will remain open to the public until 24 July 2026 at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity.
Second generation artists who have been honoured along with the distinguished members of the Natya industry.
Chennai, July 7: Kala RASA Parampara Vaibhava concluded at Rukmini Arangam with a celebration of 55 years of artistic excellence and 40 years of Natyacharya excellence of Guru Dr. Ambika Kameshwar. Presented by RASA ARPITA, the event recognised second-generation Bharatanatyam artistes who continue the artistic traditions of their Gurus while highlighting the role of the performing arts in creating an inclusive cultural space. The programme brought together eminent artistes, scholars, disciples and members of the arts fraternity to honour a lifetime dedicated to classical dance, education and social inclusion.
Honouring the Guru-Shishya Tradition
One of the evening’s central moments was the felicitation of three second-generation Bharatanatyam artistes for preserving their Gurus’ artistic vision and strengthening the Guru–Shishya Parampara.
The awardees included:
Smt. Sukanya Ravindhar (Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts, Chennai)
Sri C. P. Satyajit (Bharata Kalanjali)
Smt. Aruna Rengasamy (Ramana Natyalaya)
The honours recognised their contribution to sustaining Bharatanatyam traditions through teaching, performance and mentorship. The event reinforced the importance of artistic continuity, with disciples carrying forward the values and repertoire inherited from their Gurus.
Inclusive Performances Take Centre Stage
Among the most memorable presentations were Anbu, performed by visually challenged artistes from Shri Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind, Bengaluru, and Margazhi Mahimai, presented by the RASA Stars, artistes with intellectual disabilities.
The performances reflected RASA’s long-standing belief that artistic expression transcends physical and intellectual barriers. Audiences responded emotionally, particularly to Anbu, which explored themes of compassion, resilience and human connection through Bharatanatyam.
Performance Highlights
Anbu by visually challenged artistes from Shri Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind, Bengaluru
Margazhi Mahimai by RASA Stars, featuring artistes with intellectual disabilities
Performances by disciples of Dr. Ambika Kameshwar and successive generations of students
Tributes from Distinguished Guests
The celebration was attended by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, musician Sri Rajkumar Bharathi, senior dancers, scholars and disciples.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam praised Dr. Ambika Kameshwar’s dedication to training visually challenged students, describing their presentation as an example of discipline, artistic excellence and compassion. She noted that the performance demonstrated how rigorous classical training could enable performers to transcend limitations and move audiences deeply.
Sri Rajkumar Bharathi highlighted Dr. Ambika Kameshwar’s optimism and positive influence, saying her work had inspired confidence not only among artistes but also within their families through the transformative power of the arts.
RASA’s Journey in Arts and Inclusion
Founded in 1989 by Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, RASA – Ramana Sunritya Aalaya is a Chennai-based non-profit organisation that uses theatre arts, dance and creative pedagogy for education and holistic development. Through its RASA CHETAS™ methodology, the organisation works with children, youth and adults across varying abilities, promoting creativity, communication, self-awareness and social inclusion. The organisation supports more than 375 individuals with differing abilities each year through training, workshops and performance opportunities.
Dr. Ambika Kameshwar is widely recognised as a Bharatanatyam exponent, choreographer, vocalist and educator whose work extends beyond performance into research and inclusive arts education. Over several decades, she has choreographed numerous dance productions while pioneering the application of theatre arts for holistic development.
A Living Artistic Legacy
Beyond commemorating milestones, Kala RASA Parampara Vaibhava celebrated the enduring relationship between Guru and disciple while demonstrating how classical arts can become a vehicle for inclusion and community building. By bringing together accomplished Bharatanatyam artistes alongside performers with visual and intellectual disabilities, the event reflected a vision of culture that is both rooted in tradition and open to everyone. It reaffirmed that the legacy of a Guru continues not only through performances, but through the lives shaped by teaching, compassion and artistic excellence.
Body of Evidence, a new contemporary art exhibition curated by Shreya Josh, opens at Objectry, New Delhi, bringing together the work of 11 Delhi-based artists. Running from 10–19 July, the exhibition explores how materials, memories and lived experiences leave lasting traces, inviting visitors to consider the relationship between the body, space and memory through diverse artistic practices.
Exploring the Theme of Traces and Memory
The exhibition takes its title from the idea that every object, surface and body carries evidence of experience. Rather than focusing on a single medium or artistic style, Body of Evidence presents varied approaches to the theme, encouraging viewers to reflect on how personal histories, collective memory and material transformation intersect.
According to the curatorial concept, the exhibition examines the marks left behind by movement, emotion and time. Through painting, sculpture, installation, photography and mixed-media works, the participating artists explore questions of identity, fragility, resilience and presence.
Eleven Artists Present Diverse Practices
The exhibition features works by 11 Delhi-based emerging and established artists whose practices span multiple disciplines.
Participating artists include:
G. Gurunathan
Rajashree Choudhury
Pallavi Paul
Rhea Bakshi
Dhiraj Choudhary
Ananya Sharma
Prerna Singh
Rohit Jain
Shivangi Kalra
Tushar Verma
Yashika Sugandh
Each artist approaches the exhibition’s central theme through a distinct visual language, creating a dialogue between individual experiences and broader social narratives.
Curatorial Vision
Curator Shreya Josh brings together artists whose practices investigate the physical and emotional traces embedded in everyday life. Rather than presenting a single narrative, the exhibition encourages multiple readings, allowing audiences to engage with the artworks through their own experiences.
The exhibition highlights how contemporary artists increasingly work across disciplines, combining traditional materials with experimental processes to create immersive and thought-provoking installations.
Visitor Experience
Visitors can expect an exhibition that combines painting, sculpture, installations and mixed-media works across Objectry’s exhibition spaces.
Highlights include:
Site-responsive installations
Contemporary paintings
Sculptural works
Mixed-media experiments
Opportunities for artist interactions during scheduled public programmes
Alongside the exhibition, Objectry will host artist walkthroughs, conversations and collaborative hospitality programmes over the opening weekend, offering audiences opportunities to engage directly with participating artists and the curatorial team.
Opening preview by invitation; public exhibition thereafter.
The exhibition will be presented at Objectry, New Delhi, from 10–19 July. The opening preview on 10 July is by invitation, while subsequent days will welcome visitors according to the gallery’s schedule.
Visitors are encouraged to check directly with the venue for opening hours and programme timings before planning their visit.
Contemporary Art in Conversation
By bringing together artists working across varied media and perspectives, Body of Evidence creates a space for reflection on memory, materiality and the enduring marks left by lived experience. The exhibition demonstrates how contemporary art can transform ordinary objects and personal histories into shared cultural conversations, inviting audiences to engage with themes that remain relevant across social and artistic contexts.
New Delhi-based child artist Rea Balotia has been recognised by the India Book of Records (June 2026) for creating the Largest MultimediaArtwork on Peace and Harmony, adding another milestone to her growing list of national and international achievements. Born on 10 August 2017, Rea began painting at the age of just eight months and has since built a body of work centred on social awareness, compassion and environmental responsibility. The latest recognition acknowledges her contribution to using art as a medium for positive social messaging.
A creative Journey that Began in Infancy
Rea’s artistic journey started long before she entered school. According to her media portfolio, she displayed an early interest in colours and painting, gradually developing a distinctive visual language despite her young age. Her earlier achievements include holding a solo international exhibition featuring glass paintings at the age of three, a feat that also received record recognition. Over the years, she has continued experimenting with multiple artistic mediums while maintaining themes that encourage empathy and social responsibility.
Art Inspired by Social Values
Rather than focusing solely on aesthetics, Rea’s artworks explore issues that affect communities and future generations.
Themes frequently reflected in her work include:
Peace and harmony
Humanity and compassion
Environmental conservation
Wildlife protection
Indian culture
Children’s leadership and empowerment
Her latest record-winning multimedia artwork continues this approach by promoting peaceful coexistence through visual storytelling.
Art Connected with Humanitarian Initiatives
Alongside painting, Rea has participated in several charitable and community-focused initiatives. Her portfolio highlights that she has donated artworks for fundraising programmes, supported humanitarian causes, contributed to COVID-19 relief efforts and donated her hair for cancer patients. These activities reflect an effort to connect artistic practice with community engagement from an early age.
Her stated belief is that “Art can inspire empathy. Empathy can inspire change,” a message that continues to shape both her creative work and public outreach.
Recognition in India and Abroad
Over the past few years, Rea has received recognition from several record organisations and cultural institutions. She has also been invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan by the Hon’ble President of India, an acknowledgement of her achievements as a young artist and youth ambassador for creativity.
According to her profile, her work has been recognised by multiple national and international organisations, reflecting growing attention to young artists using creative practice to address social issues. Earlier recognitions include a world record for her international solo exhibition of glass paintings.
Highlights of Rea Balotia’s Achievements
India Book of Records recognition (June 2026) for the Largest Multimedia Artwork on Peace and Harmony
Began painting at eight months of age
Internationally recognised child artist
Donated artworks for charitable causes
Supported COVID-19 relief initiatives
Donated hair for cancer patients
Invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan
Advocate for peace, compassion and environmental awareness through art
A Growing Voice for Young Creativity
Rea Balotia’s latest recognition adds to an expanding portfolio that combines artistic achievement with community engagement. While her age makes her accomplishments noteworthy, her work also reflects a broader movement encouraging children to participate in conversations around peace, sustainability and social responsibility. As she continues her artistic journey, her practice illustrates how creativity can become a platform for dialogue and civic awareness, offering inspiration for young artists and audiences alike.
Visitors to Bharat Tex 2026 can explore India’s diverse craft traditions at Indie Haat, a business-to-consumer (B2C) exhibition dedicated to Indian handicrafts and handlooms. Scheduled from 10–19 July 2026, the event will take place at the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy in New Delhi.
Organised as part of Bharat Tex 2026, Indie Haat offers visitors an opportunity to meet skilled artisans from across the country, discover authentic handcrafted products and learn about India’s living craft traditions.
Event Overview
The exhibition brings together artisans representing a range of traditional crafts and handloom practices. Visitors can browse handcrafted products, observe artisans at work and interact directly with craft practitioners to better understand the techniques and stories behind their work.
The event also highlights the work of decorated artisans, including National Awardees and Padma Shri honourees, who will demonstrate their traditional skills.
What Visitors Can Expect
Highlights of Indie Haat include:
Live craft demonstrations by master artisans
Authentic Indian handicrafts and handloom products
Opportunities to interact with artisans and learn about their craft traditions
Handmade products available for purchase
A showcase of India’s regional craft heritage
The exhibition is designed for craft enthusiasts, collectors, students, designers, researchers and anyone interested in India’s handmade traditions.
Event Details
Event
Details
Name
Indie Haat
Venue
National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy, Bhairon Marg, Pragati Maidan
Indie Haat offers visitors an opportunity to experience Indian handicrafts and handlooms in one place while engaging directly with the artisans who keep these traditions alive. Through demonstrations, conversations and handcrafted products, the exhibition highlights the diversity and continuing relevance of India’s craft heritage as part of Bharat Tex 2026.
Traditional folk music and dance from Maharashtra will take centre stage with Rhythms of Maharashtra, featuring performances of Lavani and Jogwa, on 17 July 2026 at 6:30 PM. The programme will be held at C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, located at 40, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi.
The performance is presented by Amrapali Lavani Loknrutya Kalamanch, Nagpur, Maharashtra, in collaboration with NCZCC and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The evening will showcase the expressive traditions of Lavani and Jogwa through live music and dance. The performance brings together musicians, vocalists and dancers representing Maharashtra’s folk performing arts.
Performers
Dance
Music
Riya
Ritu Akash Bahadure
Mehak
Lokesh (Keyboard)
Soumya
Ajay (Dholki)
Arshad
Rahul (Dholki)
Akash
Divya (Vocal)
Samrudhi
Bhushan
The programme offers audiences an opportunity to experience traditional Maharashtrian performance practices presented by artists associated with Amrapali Lavani Loknrutya Kalamanch. The event forms part of ongoing efforts to promote regional folk traditions through collaborative cultural programming.
The programme highlights two important folk traditions of Maharashtra through live music and dance performed by artists from Nagpur. Audiences interested in regional performing arts and cultural traditions can attend the evening performance at C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium on 17 July 2026.
