Art Bengaluru Collective kicks off its 11th annual art exhibition
In this photo essay, we showcase an art exhibition at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, along with curator insights.
Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 1,000 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.
This weekend, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (KCP) is hosting the 11th annual exhibition of Art Bengaluru Collective. Titled ABC Chitra-Colors 2026, it features 300 works of over 45 artists.
See our coverage of earlier exhibitions at this Bengaluru cultural hub here. KCP’s most popular event is the annual Chitra Santhe, regarded as India’s largest street fair for art.
The artist lineup, some of whose works are featured in this photo essay, includes Aashwija Kadlabal, Aishwarya Vishwakumar, Chaitanya Shrivastava, Meenal Bhatnagar, Meghna Chowhan, Pratima Sharma, Priyanka Mittal, Rima Ravindran, Sourima Das, Srinivasan NG, and Vikram Sharath Raj.
The exhibition was inaugurated by V Ravichandar, a renowned civic evangelist, chief facilitator of the Bengaluru Hubba festival, and founder of heritage community space Sabha BLR. Founded by artists Rasheed Kappan and Ranji David in 2022, the collective’s exhibition showcases varied mixed media works, acrylics, water colours, and charcoal art.
“ABC Chitra-Colors is more than just a gallery show. It is an immersive hub designed to spark art interactions, ignite creative conversations, and celebrate Bengaluru's energetic cultural pulse,” Kappan tells YourStory.
Featured artists include Anila Ostwald, who draws inspiration from the vivid folk art and culture of Rajasthan. Anurag Aggarwal, an engineer by profession, also does artworks in charcoal and graphite.
The work of Meghna Chowhan is influenced by folk arts like Gond and Madhubani. Illustrator Rahul Das blends dark, gothic, and art-nouveau-inspired portraits with bold graphic compositions.
The exhibition is a visual treat for art enthusiasts, collectors, students, and curious viewers. It invites them to wander through the confluence of diverse visual stories, and experience the transformative power of art.
Mrinalini Shingal
“Our collaborative initiative aims to democratise access to art and promote public art appreciation. We want to bridge the gap between creators and the public by breaking down the intimidating, high-brow stigma often associated with commercial galleries,” Kappan affirms.
The exhibition is aimed to be inclusive, and displays together the works of both professional, seasoned masters and upcoming, first-time artists. Visitors are drawn by well-known artists but also get the opportunity to discover emerging talent they might not have encountered otherwise.
This broadens appreciation for diverse artistic styles and fresh perspectives. Displaying emerging artists alongside established names increases their visibility, credibility and networking opportunities.
The combination of renowned masterpieces and innovative new works also allows for a more dynamic exhibition. It highlights the evolution of artistic expression, fosters dialogue between different generations of artists, and appeals to a wider audience.
“To support the community directly and keep art affordable for buyers, our collective does not charge any commission on artworks sold during its shows,” David adds.
This is ABC’s second show at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. See our coverage of its earlier edition at Rangoli Metro Arts Centre on MG Road here.
Since its founding, ABC has conducted ten group shows. “More than 500 artists have displayed their works at our shows over the years, reaching thousands of art lovers from across the city and beyond,” Kappan says.
“Our dream is to curate a space where artists of various backgrounds and ethnicity come together and make Bengaluru a vibrant space. We are hoping this builds a greater sense of camaraderie which allows artists, who usually work in isolation, to share, ideate and grow as artists and as human beings,” David signs off.
Now what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?
Trina Choudhary
(All photographs taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.)