Spaces in Bangalore where art thrives

When art oozed out of its pores, some Bangaloreans went ahead to create spaces that not only accommodated the creative juices but also elevated art to a very high pedestal. DNA brings to you a collection of spaces in the city where art thrives.

GallerySke
Nestled in Langford town, this colonial cottage looks as beautiful as the works it displays. Established by Sunitha Kumar Emmart in 2003, this gallery has grown to house some of the most progressive, innovative and inspirational pieces of contemporary art. Some artists represented include Navin Thomas, Avinash Veeraraghavan, Sreshta Premnath, Sheela Gowda, Sakshi Gupta and Zakkir Hussain among others.

Jaaga
If there is a space for art, in its purest, craziest, sincerest and most genuine form, it’s Jaaga. The building is itself very innovatively designed to create a social gathering place, a space for anyone, to showcase anything, for free… as long as it contains social, political, environmental or artistic value. Jaaga works towards nurturing any innovative venture by providing the space and the core infrastructure and by involving the community. It is an experiment in art and has a nomadic value that is ever-evolving.

Kynkyny
Accessible art is what drives them. Kynkyny showcases artists across media, styles and themes and works towards integrating art and the community. A masterpiece in oil or a sculpture, something abstract or something concrete, the brush or the pen, Kynkyny is a space for them all. Namrata Kini Radhakrishnan began the space to vent her passion for art.

Sublime Art Gallery
Launched earlier this year, the Sublime Galleria’s new venue aims at not just attracting more art patrons but also providing young artists a platform to showcase their work for a longer period of time. Founder of Sublime Galleria, Uzma Irfan believes young art in Bangalore requires a mentor. The works displayed too are suspended in air and not fixed to the walls. The Sky Galleria aims to be a refreshing concept in providing visitors a unique experience of being suspended in midair while browsing through fine art.

Renaissance Art Gallerie
A space completely devoted to Indian art, this gallery showcases Indian fine art, realistic art, paintings and sculptures of both upcoming and established artists. Promoted by Shreen Malani, this gallery combines all aspects of culture. Every exhibition is opened with a tasteful selection of music concerts or dance recitals. With the focus on encouraging even non-art enthusiasts and making them more comfortable, the gallery aims at achieving widespread awareness.

Gallerie De’Arts
Bringing world art to Bangalore’s doorstep, Deepa Subramanium’s gallery works towards catering to both artists and collectors. Centrally located in M.G. Road, the gallery promotes new artists.

Crimson Art Gallery
This space has moved beyond simply showcasing artists by creating the concept of art as an investment by promoting both established and new artists whose works are high on quality but still affordable. Crimson is one of Bangalore’s original art galleries that opened its first in Safina Plaza in 1989. In 2004, Crimson opened its second gallery at The Hatworks Boulevard, a heritage villa. The space looks to include new art mediums and take art beyond the country.

Indian Cartoon Gallery
A cartoon’s worth a million words. Indian Institute of Cartoonists created a unique space that exhibits just cartoons. Spread over an area of 2,000 square feet in M.G. Road, this space is dedicated to a medium that expresses political and social scenarios with ease. The gallery exhibits works of cartoonists within and outside the country and is open to all, on all working days.

Third Eye
Founded by a self-taught artist Jasmine Khanna, this gallery is a platform for any artist to sell his/her works to buyers from varied profiles. The works displayed exhibit vibrancy, richness and a deep knowledge of Indian sensibilities through a range of artistic mediums. The gallery is located on Yemlur main road.

Gallery G
The focus of this gallery is to maintain a continuous relationship and thereby build a nexus between the artist and the investor. The gallery works towards promoting an organised Indian art industry, which compared to the rest of the world is pretty young. Gita Maini, the founder believes in art as an enduring subject to invest in.

Gallery Sumukha
2011 marked the 15th anniversary of one of Bangalore’s most versatile galleries. What began as a mobile gallery that went to homes and displayed art is today one of the largest private galleries in South India. Says Mona Webber from Sumukha, “Sumukha started off in the guest room of Premilla Baid, the founder’s Jayanagar house, in 1996. A telephone and a Maruti van is what started Sumukha off on the journey.” Premilla would receive works from generous artists which she would then display to friends and contacts in their own homes. In 1999, Sumukha moved to its own premises, a larger space which was further renovated to suit the needs of the artists in 2005. Celebrating its decade, Sumukha opened a space in Chennai, now offering both the cities a greater insight into each other’s art. “Since the time it was established, Sumukha has promoted contemporary art and has organised a number of workshops”, says Mona, adding, “Today, 15 years later, Sumukha is as passionate to move on to the next level!”

Mahua Art Gallery
Founded by Sadhana Jaipuria, Mahua is nearly 10 years old and not only does it showcase art, it also offers appreciation courses and art workshops in painting, ceramics, pottery, etc. The courses are designed for adults and children. Participants get a chance to explore different techniques through theory and practical sessions. The foundation also offers a range of art services tailored for corporates and individuals. They include art consultancy, art rentals, art restoration, art commissioning, art second sales etc. In 2005, Mahua has associated with the HK Kejriwal Foundation to grant national awards to young and upcoming artists annually.