[Art in the City] Bangalore City Art Guide

MUSEUMS

National Gallery of Modern Art
Housed in a beautiful British-era mansion, the Manikyavelu Mansion, the NGMA has everything from Mughal miniatures to the Bengal School’s Abanindranath Tagore and Gaganendranath Tagore, to Raja Ravi Varma as well as artworks by contemporary artists such as MF Husain and more. Explore the exhibits and sculptures and also check out the museum store attached to the building. A charming cafe in the garden area, amidst giant trees is just the right spot to sit and sketch while sipping on chai. The museum also offers free art walks a few days a week.
Address: Manekyavelu Mansion, 49, Palace Road Timings: 10am-5pm (closed on Mondays and national holidays)

Venkatappa Art Gallery
Right next to the Government Museum, the Venkatappa Art Gallery is special in that it functions as a museum as well as a gallery. Besides misty landscape paintings by K.Venkatappa, the artist after whom the museum is named, the gallery also a large number of paintings depicting art and culture in Bangalore as well as displays of sculptures.
Address: Kasturba Road, Sampangi Rama Nagar Timings: 10am-5pm (closed on Mondays)

Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath
While most people know Chitrakala Parishath for its famous fine arts college, the premises also has thirteen museum galleries and five exhibition galleries. From paintings by the Russian artist Nicholas Roerich and those by artists from the Bengal School, the galleries also have Santhal Pat and pattachitra paintings.
Address: 1, Art Complex, Kumara Krupa Road Timings: 10am-6pm (closed on Sundays)

Bangalore Palace
Built in 1878, the Tudor-style Bangalore Palace isn’t an art gallery in the traditional sense but it is one of those places that you can head to enjoy numerous paintings hanging on its walls. From artworks belonging to the mid-19th century, including Greek and Dutch paintings and works of Raja Ravi Varma, Bangalore Palace is a great place to take in a day of culture. .
Address: Palace Road, Near Mount Carmel Institute Of Management, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052 Timings: 10am-5pm

Rangoli Metro Art Centre
A cultural space in the centre of the city, Rangoli Metro Art Centre has blossomed into a vibrant space for events, art and more since it was inaugurated. Regular exhibitions take place in the three art galleries that are a part of it.
Address: MG Road Boulevard, beside MG Road Metro Station, near Anil Kumble Circle, MG Road Timings: 11am-7.30pm

1 Shanti Road
1 Shanti Road is a non-profit art space that gives emerging artists an opportunity to showcase their artworks. It also is an art residency and a cultural space that hosts artists from around the world, screens unique and interesting films and organises talks every month.
Address: 1, Shanthi Rd, Shanti Nagar Timings: 10am-7pm

Galleries

For more art love, visit these galleries. If you know of your favourites we should add to the list, let us know. Mahua Art Gallery
Address: 344, 4th Main Rd, Sadashiva Nagar, Armane Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560080
Timings: 11am-7pm

Gallery Sumukha
Address: 24/10, BTS Depot Road, Wilson Garden
Timings: 10.30am-6pm

Gallery Ske
Address: 2, Berlie Street, Langford Town
Timings: 11 am-7pm (closed on Tuesdays & Sundays)

Crimson Art Gallery
Address: The Hatworks Boulevard, 32, Cunningham Rd

Timings: 11am-8pm (closed on Sundays and public holidays)

Gallery g
Address: 38, Lavelle Road, 7th Cross, Maini Sadan
Timings: 10am-6pm (Closed on Sundays)

Sublime Galleria
Address: 801, 8th Floor, UB City Mall, Vittal Mallya Road
Timings: 11am-8pm
Tasveer Gallery
Address: 26/1, Sua House, Kasturba Cross Road
Timings: 10am-6pm (closed on Sundays)

EVENTS

Chitra Santhe is an annual event organised by Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath that has artists from around the country exhibit and sell their artworks along the pavements of Kumara Krupa Road from morning till dusk. With paintings that fit all types of budgets, you will find everything from artworks and sculptures to porcelain and other art. The 14th edition of Chitra Santhe took place this year on January 15 and had 1175 registered artists and over 3 to 4 lakh visitors.