Posted on 8 November 2025:
Museum on the Wheels: Honoring Sukhvir Sanghal’s Timeless Brush at Lalit Kala Akademi
THE LALIT KALA AKADEMI, NEW DELHI, UNVEILED THE MUSEUM ON THE WHEELS—A SOLO EXHIBITION THAT CELEBRATES THE LEGACY OF PROF. SUKHVIR SANGHAL (1914–2006), ONE OF INDIA’S PIONEERING VOICES OF THE BENGAL SCHOOL.
Curated with love and precision by his granddaughter, Priyam Chandra, the exhibition opened on Thursday evening at Galleries 1 & 2, Lalit Kala Akademi, Mandi House, and will remain open to visitors until November 12, 2025.
The inauguration was a graceful gathering of art and admiration. Dignitaries including Dr. Sanjeev Kishore Gautam, Director General of the National Gallery of Modern Art; Dr. Nand Lal Thakur, Vice Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi; Dr. Alka Pande, renowned art historian and curator; and Mr. Prashant Bhushan, senior advocate and passionate art lover, lent their presence and praise to the occasion.
The evening at Lalit Kala Akademi was enriched by the presence of Rajesh Jaiswal, Dr. Stuti Singhal, Ritam Chandra, Puneet Gera, and other distinguished guests from the art and academic circles.
“It was an immense pleasure to revisit this ‘museum’ of my mother’s art teacher, Shri Sukhvir Sanghal, who, in my view, was one of the greatest artists of the 20th century and among the three finest wash painters India has produced. Unfortunately, his contributions remain inadequately recognized,” remarked Prashant Bhushan, senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India.
The exhibition showcases forty-five rare works by Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal, tracing his artistic and spiritual journey across India’s cultural landscape. From River of Life to Ramcharit, each series reflects his deep connection to Indian philosophy and aesthetics. His embroidered khadi tapestries stand as quiet marvels—transforming humble fabric into timeless art. Known for his mastery of the wash technique, Sanghal also explored watercolour on wood and silk, sculpture, embroidery, and even fine art on leather, revealing a life devoted to form, spirit, and innovation.
Born in 1914 in Muzaffarnagar, Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal was a visionary artist, freedom fighter, and philosopher whose legacy continues to shape India’s cultural spirit. A graduate and later Principal of the Government School of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow, he founded Kala Bharti in Prayagraj in 1938—an institution devoted to Fine Arts, Classical Music, and Dance.
Guided by the influence of A.K. Halder and Abanindranath Tagore, Sanghal mentored generations of artists and leaders, including Indira Gandhi and Vishwanath Pratap Singh. His scholarly works, Bhartiya Chitrakala Paddhati and Evolution of Art and Artist, remain cornerstones of Indian art education.
Honored by national art societies, his painting Thou Art Dust, to Dust returnest was acquired by Emperor George V, and in 1942, he designed Indira Gandhi’s wedding invitation at the request of Pandit Nehru. Even after his passing in 2006, his name lives on—etched in retrospectives, publications, and the streets of Lucknow.
Through Museum on the Wheels, Lalit Kala Akademi and curator Priyam Chandra honour Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal as an artist whose work reflects the soul of India—spiritual, timeless, and deeply human.
Earlier, Yathraemagazine published a thoughtful and in-depth feature on Museum on the Wheels—a remarkable solo exhibition honouring the timeless legacy of Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal (1914–2006).
THE EXHIBITION REAFFIRMS HIS BELIEF THAT ART IS NOT CONFINED BY WALLS OR WORDS; IT TRAVELS ACROSS GENERATIONS, CARRYING THE ESSENCE OF A CIVILIZATION THAT STILL SPEAKS TO THE HEART.
