08-05-2025
How Bengaluru houses beauty
April 15, the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci was chosen as World Art Day in 2012, by the International Association of Art to honour creativity. Perhaps best known for his paintings, Da Vinci was a polymath — prolific as an architect, engineer, theorist and scientist.
A look at art galleries in Bengaluru that house permanent collections:
National Gallery of Modern Art
A beautiful, 100-year old mansion houses the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Bengaluru. Established in 2009, under the leadership of Priyanka Mary Francis who took over as director last year, there has been a marked change in NGMA's social media presence. Apart from their recently renovatedauditorium, NGMA boasts a public art reference library and a museum shop. Workshops, seminars, film screenings and guided walks are some of the activities NGMA holds throughout the year.
While their permanent collection covers various periods, from Indian miniatures and colonial artists to the Bengal School and post-independence artists, the gallery is currently hosting Sanhita, showcasing the Air India Collection — a treasure trove of works celebrating the airline's cultural history, as well as a retrospective of Kolkata-based artist Amitabh Sengupta.
NGMA is at Manikyavelu Mansion, Palace Road, Vasanth Nagar
Gallery G
Founded in 2003, under the leadership of Gitanjali Maini, Gallery G partners with the Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation and Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation. They have made a name for themselves with their collection of art works and antiquities.
The gallery is currently hosting The Masters and The Modern 2025 - South Edition, an exhibition that shines a spotlight on the works of over 40 South Indian masters. An immersive multisensory experience inspired by the diary of C Raja Raja Varma, younger brother, co-artist, and assistant to Raja Ravi Varma, is also on display at the gallery. Call 70224-43338 to book a slot.
Gallery G is at Maini Sadan, 38, Lavelle Road, 7th Cross.
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath was established in 1960 and houses 18 galleries. While five of these spaces are open for artists to exhibit their work, the remaining galleries showcase permanent collections of paintings, sculptures and folk art. Of these, the most notable are the works of Nicholas Roerich and his son Svetoslav Roerich.
The College of Fine Arts, a visual arts college, is also on the premises of the Parishath. The gallery is currently holding a retrospective on KG Subramanyan, one of the country's leading modernists.
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath is on Kumarakrupa Road, Kumara Park East, Seshadripuram
MKF Museum of Art
On a quiet blink-and-miss lane, under a leafy overhang is the MKF Museum of Art. It was established in 2018, by the Manjushree Foundation, 'to promote, protect, conserve and preserve any form of art'. The foundation started the MKF Museum of Art to showcase and exhibit different nuances of art for the public
MKF's private collection comprises renowned names from the Indian art world such a Arup Das, Manu Parekh, Ram Kumar, Jamini Roy, Sakti Burman and JMS Mani, to name a few. Also, on display are a collection of limited edition pens from all over the world such as Marlen, Montegrappa, Cartier, Montblanc, and Caran D'Ache.
MKF recently concluded a show by artist Satish Multhalli, and will be exhibiting the works of artist Priya Elayaraja from May 17.
MKF Museum of Art is on Lavelle Road, opposite SodaBottleOpenerWala.
Museum of Art & Photography
The Museum of Art & Photography or MAP as it is fondly called by patrons was founded by Abhishek Poddar who wanted 'to revive the cultural landscape of the city of Bengaluru, and pioneer a museum-going culture for children and adults'. With a growing collection of over 60,000 artworks that include paintings, sculptures, textiles, photographs, popular culture and more, the museum has art galleries and digital experience centres, spread over six storeys.
What sets MAP apart from other art galleries in the city are its long-running exhibitions that usually have a minimum duration of three months.
Museum of Art & Photography is at 22, Kasturba Rd, Shanthala Nagar
Dwija Art Gallery
Dwija Art Gallery is housed in a beautiful, 129-year-old bungalow that retains its old world charm. Apart from regular exhibitions, Dwija Art Gallery is celebrating their first anniversary by displaying works of artists who are part of their permanent collection, which includes names such as FN Souza, KK Hebbar, Jyoti Bhatt, Achutan Kudallur, MS Murthy among others.
Dwija Art Gallery is on 4, Field Marshal Cariappa Rd, Shanthala Nagar
Tune In
The following art galleries in the city have regular shows:
- Gallery Sumukha at BTS Depot Road, NGO Colony, Wilson Garden is hosting 'Bring me Flowers' by Mohit Mahato till May 17
- Gallery Time and Space on the 2nd Floor of The Guild, 55, Lavelle Road, is hosting a solo show of artist Amitabh Sengupta till May 18, with a retrospective of the artist concurrently running at NGMA
- KYNKYNY Art Gallery is at 104 Embassy Square, Infantry Road, and will be showcasing sculptures crafted by artist Janarthanan Rudramoorthy from May 30
- Gallery DTALE Archist on the 1st Floor, 693/1 ITPL main road, Whitefield, is currently hosting a group show of artists, architects and designers, that will be on till June 6, 2025
- Artisera on the 3rd floor of Ambaram Estates, Stage 1, Indiranagar, will be hosting a group show by artists Ashu Gupta, Rakhee Shenoy and Ashu Gupta in July
