Continuum, a solo exhibition by Asit Kumar Patnaik in Delhi, brings together nearly 50 artworks that trace the artist’s creative journey over the last 30 years.
About the Exhibition
A major solo exhibition by Asit Kumar Patnaik in Delhi, Continuum: A 30-Year Retrospective, celebrates three decades of the artist’s practice. Presented by Chawla Art Gallery, the exhibition will open at LTC Gallery, Bikaner House, New Delhi, from 21 to 25 August 2026. It will then continue at Chawla Art Gallery in Saket until 30 September 2026.
The exhibition features around 50 artworks created between 1995 and 2026. Visitors will see previously unseen paintings and works on paper alongside important works from different stages of Patnaik’s career. The display includes sketches, drawings, watercolours, landscapes, abstract works, graphic prints and paintings, offering a wide view of his artistic journey.
Thirty Years of Artistic Practice
Over the past three decades, Asit Kumar Patnaik has worked with many materials and techniques. His practice includes canvas, paper, wood, fibreglass, threads and paper collage. One feature that appears throughout his work is texture. What began in his early sketches and paper works has slowly developed into one of the strongest elements of his paintings.
The solo exhibition by Asit Kumar Patnaik in Delhi allows visitors to see how his style has changed while keeping the same artistic focus. The exhibition shows the artist’s willingness to experiment while remaining connected to his core ideas.
Exploring Human Relationships and Women’s Strength
Patnaik is widely known for his semi-realistic figurative paintings. His works often show men and women together, exploring emotions such as love, companionship, attraction, conflict, attachment and distance. These themes appear across his well-known Man-Woman series, where memories and present-day experiences come together.
Women remain the emotional centre of many of his paintings. A bright red colour in a woman’s hair appears repeatedly as a symbol of energy, confidence and inner strength. Through these works, women are shown as resilient and independent figures. Male characters are presented with sensitivity and respect, creating a balanced relationship rather than one based on power.
A Curated Look at an Evolving Career
Curator Shibani Chawla says the gallery has worked with Asit Kumar Patnaik for nearly three decades and has witnessed the steady growth of his artistic language. She believes Continuum brings together important works that reflect both change and continuity in the artist’s practice. According to Chawla, Patnaik successfully creates a dialogue between figurative and abstract forms while keeping the feminine figure at the centre of his visual language.
Speaking about the exhibition, Patnaik says the retrospective reflects his journey from the sketches he made during his BFA and MFA years to his latest paintings. While his mediums and techniques have evolved over time, his interest in understanding human emotions and relationships has remained unchanged. He hopes visitors will connect with the artworks and discover their own meanings.
A Landmark Solo Exhibition in Delhi
The solo exhibition by Asit Kumar Patnaik in Delhi also celebrates the artist’s contribution to contemporary Indian art. A Gold Medalist in Painting from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Patnaik has exhibited widely in India and internationally. In 2024, he received the Best Solo Exhibitor Award at Art Expo New York, adding another milestone to his artistic career.
With works spanning thirty years, Continuum offers visitors an opportunity to experience the evolution of one artist’s vision through different mediums, ideas and visual styles. The exhibition highlights how experimentation, observation and consistency have shaped Patnaik’s practice over time.
Exhibition Details
Exhibition: Continuum: A 30-Year Retrospective
Artist: Asit Kumar Patnaik
Presented by: Chawla Art Gallery
Venue 1: LTC Gallery, Bikaner House, New Delhi
Dates: 21–25 August 2026
Timings: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Venue 2: Chawla Art Gallery, Saket, New Delhi
Dates: 26 August – 30 September 2026
Highlights: Around 50 artworks created between 1995 and 2026, including previously unseen paintings and works on paper.
Cover Image Credit: Chawla Art Gallery
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