Posted on 7 February 2026:
The Art of Becoming: Stella Maris Alumni Canvas at Lalit Kala Akademi
The Art of Becoming: Stella(r) Alumni Canvas is a luminous celebration of creativity, tracing the journeys of artists shaped at the Department of Fine Arts, Stella Maris College.
Curated by Dr. Ashrafi S. Bhagat—distinguished art historian, critic and former head of the department—the exhibition brings together alumni voices in a collective dialogue of imagination, memory and transformation.
Opening on February 10, 2026, at Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai, the evening will be graced by distinguished guests: Mr. Edgar Pang, Consul General of Singapore, and Padma Shri awardee Mr. Thota Tharani, celebrated visual artist and designer.
To honor the spirit of The Art of Becoming: Stella(r) Alumni Canvas, the exhibition gathers an inspiring constellation of alumni artists including renowned Lalitha Shankar, Preetha Kannan, Thejomaye Menon, Parvathi Nayar, Beenu Govind Rao, Harini Kumar, Hina Bhatt, Isaiarasi Annamalai, Priya Suneel, Rajny Krishnan, Reena D Kochar, Lakshmi Srinath, Mallika Madhavan, Pooja SI, Sandhya Gopinath, Shalini Biswajit, Sucheta Misra Onkar, Sunitha Choudhry, Swapna Reddy and Unnamalai Annamalai.
The exhibition unfolds through two conceptual strands—The Mysteries of the Ocean and Fragility of Time and Space, says Dr. Ashrafi S. Bhagat, eminent art historian, critic and Curator of the show.
Both evoke the delicate balance of nature and memory, drawing parallels between the ocean’s infinite depth and the ephemeral dimensions of human experience. Artists have interpreted these themes with individuality and imagination, weaving metaphors, symbols and personal sensibilities into their works. Through diverse media—watercolors, acrylics, mixed media, ceramics, terracotta and sculpture—their creations form a vibrant tapestry of talent, optimism, and shared journeys, resonating with the majesty of the ocean and the fragility of time, he shared.
Each canvas is a testament to transformation, weaving a collective narrative of memory, imagination and becoming.
