Posted on 3 September 2026:

Legendary Masters of Indian Art: Rare Exhibition-cum-Sale to Light Up Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur (5–20 September 2026)

WHERE SIX DECADES OF INDIAN ART COME HOME: RIC JAIPUR TO HOST “LEGENDARY MASTERS OF INDIAN ART”

Some exhibitions merely display art. Others open a window into the soul of a nation’s artistic evolution. The Rajasthan International Centre (RIC), Jaipur, is set to do the latter with “Legendary Masters of Indian Art”– a special exhibition-cum-sale running from 5 to 20 September 2026 at the Art Gallery on the first floor of RIC.

Curated with evident passion and scholarship by Nikhat Ansari, the exhibition brings together the works of 35 renowned and senior Indian artists — a gathering rare enough to feel less like a show and more like a homecoming of masters.

At its heart, the exhibition aspires to something larger than a sale: a common ground where art lovers, seasoned collectors, practising artists, and cultural professionals can meet, converse, and rediscover the richness of India’s artistic heritage under one roof.

A SPOTLIGHT ON RAJASTHAN’S OWN ARTISTIC LEGACY

What sets this exhibition apart is its deep-rooted connection to the soil it stands on. Of the 35 artists featured, 17 hail from Rajasthan itself — creators who have not merely practised art, but shaped it, carving distinctive artistic identities that have come to define the state’s contribution to Indian modernism. For the first time, visitors will be able to trace this legacy across decades in a single visit, with works spanning the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s — each canvas a quiet witness to the shifting currents of modern and contemporary Indian art.

A Canvas of Many Forms

The exhibition refuses to confine itself to a single medium. Paintings, sculptures, lithographs, woodcuts, drawings, and works on paper will all find their place on the gallery walls — a deliberate curatorial choice that celebrates the full breadth of artistic expression. Every piece on display will also be available for purchase, making this as much a collector’s opportunity as a cultural celebration. Among the highlights are several rare and vintage works, treasured for their historical weight, age, and scarcity — pieces that rarely surface outside private collections or museum archives.

Featured Masters

The exhibition’s artist list reads like a living history of Indian art. Visitors will encounter works by icons such as M. F. Husain, Himmat Shah, K. G. Subramanyan, Padma Shri Shakir Ali, Jogen Chowdhury, and Suhas Roy, alongside celebrated Rajasthan-based masters including P. N. Choyal, Kripal Singh Shekhawat, Dr. Sumahendra Sharma, Prof. Devakinandan Sharma, and Mohan Sharma. The roster extends further to include Dhiraj Choudhary, Jyoti Swaroop, Shail Choyal, Akhilesh Verma, Samir Aich, Ajit Seal, Shabbir Hasan Qazi, Prof. Bhawani Shankar Sharma, Samdar Singh Khangarot, Subrato Mondal, Jai Jharotia, Ankit Patel, Giriraj Sharma, Sanjeeb Gogoi, Salil Sahani, Raghu Navaria, Jayanti Rabaria, Dr. Nandlal Thakur, P. C. Kishan, Dr. Ashwin Dalvi, Ketaki Roy Chowdhury, Ratnavali K. P., Ramgopal Kumawat, Dr. Chandrashekhar Sai, and several others whose brushes and chisels have quietly shaped India’s artistic conscience.

TREASURES WORTH A SECOND LOOK

A handful of works stand out as the beating heart of the exhibition. “Shringar,” a striking 1958 wash painting by the late Prof. Devakinandan Sharma, offers a glimpse into a bygone era of refined aesthetic sensibility. “Pabuji Rathore” by Shri Kripal Singh Shekhawat, rendered in tempera on board, showcases the artist’s unmistakable craftsmanship and narrative depth. Meanwhile, Dr. Sumahendra Sharma’s tempera-on-cloth depiction of Bani Thani captures the timeless grace that has made this Rajasthani artistic tradition legendary the world over. Also on view will be paintings by Shri Mohan Sharma, revered as one of the “Four Ratans of Rajasthan” — an honour that speaks to his enduring place in the state’s cultural memory.

AN ARTIST-FIRST APPROACH TO THE ART MARKET

Beyond its curatorial richness, the exhibition carries a quietly progressive purpose. RIC has adopted an artist-friendly commission structure, charging just 5% on artworks sold — a policy designed to ensure that artists receive a fairer, larger share of their own creative labour. It is a small but meaningful step toward nurturing a healthier, more equitable art market in Rajasthan, one that rewards creators as much as it celebrates them.

For Collectors, a Rare Invitation

With artworks priced between ₹1,00,000 and ₹30,00,000, the exhibition opens its doors to serious collectors and passionate first-time buyers alike. It is, in every sense, an invitation to own a fragment of India’s artistic legacy — works that carry not just aesthetic value, but decades of history within their frames.

Through this ambitious showcase, RIC continues its mission to position Jaipur and Rajasthan as thriving centres of art, culture, and collecting — strengthening the dialogue between artists, institutions, collectors, and admirers of Indian art for generations to come.