Kalakriti Art Gallery announces the second edition of its acclaimed group exhibition Origin Story, opening on 31 January 2026 at Sameksha Gallery, IILM Center for Arts and Ideas, New Delhi. Curated by Satyajit Dave, Origin Story 2.0 will run until 10 February 2026 and forms part of the India Art Fair’s Young Collectors’ Programme.
Building on the success of its first edition in 2025, Origin Story 2.0 continues the gallery’s commitment to championing emerging and mid-career contemporary artists while engaging a new generation of collectors. The exhibition presents accessible yet conceptually rich works that trace the evolution of human creativity and material culture. Rather than pinpointing a single moment of origin, it explores multiple beginnings found in memory, material, and imagination—where craft, objects, and early technologies become points of reflection in a contemporary context.
Participating Artists:
Adarsh Baji, Ankon Mitra, Ansh Kumar, Bala Subramanian, Bishal Bauri, Bolgum Sai Aditya, Jayesh Sachdev, Jignesh Panchal, Kandula Sandeep, Keerti Pooja, Krupali Kathiriya, Kundan Singh, Kylmanroy L. Mawlong, Om Soorya, P.K.P. Alekya, Priyanka Aeley, Priyashakti, Rachana Badrakia, Radhika Kachar, Rajnish Chhanesh, Ramu Das, Roy K. John, S.D. Hari Prasad, Sandipan Paul, Sanjoy Patra, Satadru Sovan Banduri, Shailesh Mohan Ojha, Subir Kumar Mondal, Sudheesh Kumar K., Sumit Sarkar, Suneel Mamadapur, Suvradeep Samanta, Tanmay Santra, Tapas Biswas, Urgain, V. Jengaiah, Vinod Daroz, and Viraj Khanna.
Each artist examines notions of transformation, process, and the shared lineage of making.
Curator Satyajit Dave describes the exhibition as “an exploration of beginnings as processes rather than fixed points in history,” emphasizing the role of craft and material enquiry as living, evolving forms of knowledge. Gallerist Rekha Lahoti adds that the new edition continues the ethos of accessibility and experimentation, with a sharper focus on materiality and the creativity within craft traditions.
Through Origin Story 2.0, Kalakriti Art Gallery reaffirms its mission to provide a platform for innovative voices in Indian contemporary art and to nurture dialogues between artists and the next generation of collectors.
Cover image: Ankon Mitra | Cloud Maps-for full Installation | Archival map Prints on Zardozi Silk Gold Fabric, Pasted on Black / Gold Cardstock, Hand folded and assembled, Resin Hardened and hanging assembly.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
