Aakriti Art Gallery Launches India’s First AI-Powered Virtual Art Advisor “Ask Aakriti” and Biannual Research Journal “Art Insights”

17-07-2026 to 18-07-2026

Kolkata, 17 July 2026 — In a landmark evening that seamlessly blended tradition with cutting-edge innovation, Aakriti Art Gallery unveiled two transformative initiatives at its iconic space on 12/3A Hungerford Street (Picasso Bithi), Kolkata. The gallery, a pioneer in the Indian art ecosystem since 2005, launched Ask Aakriti — India’s first AI-powered digital art advisory platform — alongside the inaugural issue of Art Insights, a new biannual research journal dedicated to Indian art history, documentation, provenance, and collecting practices.

The event drew a distinguished cross-section of Kolkata’s art fraternity, including eminent art historians and critics Mrinal Ghosh, Nanak Ganguly, Prasanta Daw, and Debdutta Gupta, alongside leading artists, collectors, scholars, writers, and enthusiasts. The intimate yet intellectually charged gathering reflected the gallery’s longstanding philosophy of going beyond exhibitions and sales to preserve knowledge, foster research, and create meaningful conversations around Indian Modern and Contemporary Art.

The Launch Ceremony
The ceremony was conducted by Aman Bachhawat (graduate of Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York), together with noted art collector Pradip Bothra and Chhatrapati Dutta, Principal of the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata. Their presence underscored the collaborative spirit bridging institutional academia, private collecting, and curatorial innovation.

Against a striking backdrop of bronze sculptures of cultural luminaries and thoughtfully curated artworks, the gallery’s white-walled space was reconfigured into a dynamic forum. White slipcovered chairs were arranged in clusters and semi-circles, encouraging dialogue rather than a traditional stage-audience divide. A projector and laptop setup facilitated live demonstrations, while a tripod-mounted camera documented the proceedings for posterity.

Highlights from the Evening
The evening began with warm welcomes and contextual remarks on the gallery’s two-decade journey of innovation — from the GenNext platform for emerging artists to the popular Affordable Art Mela concept. Attendees then witnessed the formal unveiling of the two new initiatives.

Ask Aakriti, the flagship AI-powered platform, was presented as a practical, intelligent companion for collectors, students, researchers, and art lovers. Drawing on Aakriti’s deep curatorial archives and two decades of expertise, it offers contextual search, artist insights, intelligent artwork recommendations, collection guidance, and accessible knowledge on Indian Modern and Contemporary Art. The live demonstration (visible in several photographs via the projector setup) showcased its intuitive interface and potential to democratize high-quality art advisory services across India.

Art Insights, the new biannual research journal, was introduced as a collective endeavour of the gallery’s in-house research team. The inaugural issue focuses on overlooked artists, archival discoveries, provenance research, market perspectives, and lesser-known narratives — filling critical gaps in Indian art scholarship. Copies and previews were shared, sparking immediate interest among the scholarly attendees.

Thoughtful Dialogues and Engaged Participation
What truly distinguished the evening was its conversational format. Speakers and panelists, including members of the gallery leadership and distinguished guests, engaged in open exchanges while seated among the audience. Photographs capture candid moments: thoughtful crossed arms, animated hand gestures during discussions, attentive listening from all generations, and warm smiles amid serious deliberation.

One particularly evocative image shows a core group of speakers and moderators — including figures in crisp white shirts, patterned polos, and scholarly vests — seated near the large window with the bronze sculptures behind them, deep in conversation. Another wide shot reveals the full breadth of the gathering: seasoned scholars with flowing white hair and beards alongside younger professionals and enthusiasts, all united by a shared passion for Indian art.

Water bottles, notebooks, and the visible “ART INSIGHTS” publication on a stand added to the authentic, working-session atmosphere. The evening flowed naturally from formal presentations into lively Q&A and informal networking, embodying the gallery’s vision of creating “meaningful conversations.”

A Visionary Quote
Vikram Bachhawat, Founder-Director of Aakriti Art Gallery, encapsulated the significance of the dual launch:
“For more than twenty years, Aakriti has believed that a gallery should do much more than exhibit and sell art. It should preserve knowledge, encourage research, educate collectors and create meaningful conversations around Indian art. Ask Aakriti and Art Insights are natural extensions of that philosophy. One embraces the possibilities of artificial intelligence, while the other strengthens the culture of research and documentation. Together, they represent our commitment to making Indian art more accessible, better documented and more deeply understood.”

Looking Ahead

With Ask Aakriti now live and accessible through the gallery’s digital platforms, and the first issue of Art Insights marking the beginning of a sustained publishing programme, Aakriti Art Gallery has positioned itself at the forefront of India’s evolving art knowledge ecosystem. These initiatives complement the gallery’s core strengths in authentication, provenance research, and client advisory while opening new doors for wider public engagement.

The 17 July launch was not merely an unveiling — it was a celebration of dialogue, scholarship, and technological possibility, set within the living heritage of Kolkata’s art scene. The photographs from the evening beautifully capture this spirit: a room alive with ideas, where bronze icons of the past bore witness to conversations shaping the future of Indian art.

Aakriti Art Gallery continues its journey of innovation with the same integrity and passion that has defined it for over two decades.

For more information, to interact with Ask Aakriti, or to enquire about Art Insights, please contact the gallery at +91 98304 11115 / 11116 or visit www.aakritiartgallery.com.