Aakriti Art Gallery Presents K .G. Subramanyan: The Poetry of the Everyday

An Exhibition of Rare Works on Paper by One of India’s Greatest Modern Masters

Kolkata: Aakriti Art Gallery is pleased to present a landmark exhibition of works on paper by K. G. Subramanyan (1924–2016), one of the most influential figures in modern Indian art. Featuring a carefully curated selection of drawings, watercolours, gouaches, ink works, and mixed-media compositions, the exhibition offers visitors an intimate opportunity to engage with the remarkable graphic language of an artist whose influence extended far beyond painting into mural-making, printmaking, design, writing, and art education. The exhibition includes a wide range of works on paper that demonstrate the diversity of Subramanyan’s practice across media and formats. 

Widely regarded as one of the architects of post-Independence Indian modernism, K.G. Subramanyan redefined the relationship between tradition and modernity. Educated at Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan, under masters such as Nandalal Bose and Benode Behari Mukherjee, he developed a highly original visual language rooted in Indian folk and craft traditions while engaging with international modernist ideas. Throughout his long career, he championed the belief that art should remain closely connected to everyday life and accessible to all.

Unlike his celebrated murals and monumental works, this exhibition focuses on the intimacy and immediacy of his works on paper. Executed with remarkable freedom and economy of line, these drawings and paintings reveal the artist’s extraordinary ability to transform ordinary people, domestic scenes, animals, conversations, and fleeting moments into timeless visual narratives filled with wit, empathy, and poetic imagination.

The exhibition has been thoughtfully assembled by Asmita Mukherjee, whose selection highlights the remarkable breadth of Subramanyan’s graphic practice while offering fresh insight into the spontaneity, experimentation, and intellectual depth that define his art.

Speaking about the exhibition, Vikram Bachhawat, Director of Aakriti Art Gallery, said:

“K.G. Subramanyan remains one of the most intellectually significant artists of modern India. While his larger works are widely celebrated, this exhibition allows viewers to encounter the intimacy of his creative process through drawings and works on paper that possess extraordinary freshness and humanity. We are delighted to present this important exhibition in Kolkata, a city with which the artist shared deep artistic and cultural connections.”

Accompanying the exhibition is a fully illustrated catalogue featuring a scholarly essay exploring Subramanyan’s enduring contribution to Indian modern art, his philosophy of creativity, and the significance of the works presented.

For nearly two decades, Aakriti Art Gallery has played an important role in presenting museum-quality exhibitions of modern and contemporary Indian art, alongside research, publications, and documentation that contribute to a deeper understanding of India’s artistic heritage. This exhibition continues the gallery’s commitment to presenting historically significant artists through carefully researched and thoughtfully curated exhibitions.

The exhibition is expected to attract collectors, scholars, artists, students, and art enthusiasts interested in the evolution of modern Indian art and the legacy of one of its most celebrated masters.

Exhibition: K.G. Subramanyan: The Poetry of the Everyday
Venue: Aakriti Art Gallery, 12/3A Hungerford Street, Kolkata – 700017

Date : 19th August till 5th September, 2026.
Gallery Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Media Contact:

N.G.Rao
Aakriti Art Gallery
12/3A Hungerford Street, Kolkata – 700017
Phone: +91 98304 11115 
Email: admin@aakritiartgallery.com
Website: www.aakritiartgallery.com

About Aakriti Art Gallery

Founded in 2005, Aakriti Art Gallery is one of Eastern India’s leading galleries dedicated to modern and contemporary Indian art. Through exhibitions, publications, research initiatives, and digital platforms such as Art Insights and Ask Aakriti, the gallery actively promotes scholarship, documentation, and informed collecting while presenting important works by established masters and emerging artists.