The Venkatappa Art Gallery Is A Treat For All Art Buffs In The City

The Venkatappa Art Gallery has been an art showcase of Karnataka’s most famous artist, K Venkatappa. It is now 42 years old and houses art not only of K Venkatappa but also of other artists, old and new.

The gallery is situated next to the Bangalore Museum on Kasturba Road, is a treat to all art lovers. You not only get to see the works of one of Karnataka’s best, but you also get a look at the works of some other contemporary and modern artists. The gallery even hosts art shows and festivals. The Art Gallery is a must visit, with over 600 paintings and sculptures, a tour of this gallery is a must.

Spread over three floors, the ground floor of the gallery displays the works of K Venkatappa. See the tools with which he created the masterpieces, on display, including his pair of glasses and even a walking stick! You can gape at his works, like a series of paintings on Ooty, works on Eklavya practicing his archery and so much more. There is also a display of the different veenas that Venkatappa played. There’s even a section dedicated to his sketches. The first floor of the gallery is filled with the works of various artists including KN Ramachandran, K Mohandas, and GM Hedge. There’s no theme, but there are some cool paintings here, ranging from portraits to abstracts.

Adjoining to this gallery is a small room that houses CP Rajaram’s wood carvings. The second floor of the gallery is entirely dedicated to the paintings of KK Hebbar. Starting from a self-portrait, the collection is almost like a story, documenting Hebbar’s life and the paintings date all the way back to the 1940s. So you can see loads of his books, his accolades, and some stunning work on everyday life. From his oil paintings on the natural elements of the earth to his sketches of everyday life in villages of India and abroad, you can discover KK Hebbar’s range of talent, after walking through the gallery.

The gallery is open on all days of the week except Mondays, from 10 am to 5 pm. The entry fee is INR 10 for adults and INR 5 for children. But, they might be closed or open for a shorter period on public holidays.