Satish Gujral 100: NGMA Marks The Artist’s Centenary With Landmark Exhibition

At the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi, an expansive exhibition titled “Satish Gujral: A Century in Form, Fire, and Vision” celebrates the remarkable journey of renowned Indian painter, sculptor, muralist and architect Satish Gujral.

Organised by NGMA in collaboration with The Gujral Foundation, the exhibition will take place from January 16 to March 30, 2026, featuring over 160 works tracing Gujral’s artistic evolution spanning seven decades. Curated by Kishore Singh, the show highlights how his work responded to personal experience, historical upheavals and broader social realities.

Who Was Satish Gujral?

Born in 1925, Gujral was one of the most versatile figures in post-Independence Indian art. 

His path as an artist was shaped early by an illness. As a child, Gujral suffered from a serious bone infection that left him deaf. Because of his impaired hearing, he faced several problems, and was unable to participate in many activities, which is when he turned toward reading and art. Encouraged by his father, Gujral joined the Mayo School of Arts in Lahore to study applied arts, where he soon showcased exceptional creative ability. Eventually, he went on to earn international recognition, and in 1999, was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.

About The Exhibition

The NGMA exhibition brings together more than 160 works by Satish Gujral across painting, sculpture, drawing, tapestries, murals and mixed media. It unfolds as an autobiographical journey through the artist’s life, revealing how personal experiences, from childhood displacement and the trauma of Partition to international artistic influences, shaped his evolving creative vision.

The display includes personal memorabilia and archival materials, allowing visitors to understand the context in which his work was created. Rather than presenting isolated masterpieces, the exhibition emphasises the experimentation and transformation that defined Gujral’s practice.

As part of the centenary celebrations, a parallel exhibition titled “Satish Gujral 100: Architecture," is also being held at The Gujral House in Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, the artist’s former residence. Curated by Rhea Sodhi, the show focuses on Gujral’s architectural legacy.

Art Shaped By Partition And Memory

One of the most powerful influences on Gujral’s work was the Partition of India in 1947. The period of upheaval and violence left a deep impression on the young artist, who witnessed the widespread displacement and suffering that accompanied the division of the subcontinent. 

Reflecting on this experience in a 1986 interview with Indian English-language news magazine, Gujral shared that the tragedy of Partition helped him confront and understand his own “inner temperament” as an artist.

His experiences during the partition found expression in a series of deeply emotional paintings depicting grief, fear and collective trauma. The “Partition Series," painted during the late 1940s and early 1950s, became a defining aspect of his early artistic identity.

International Influences And The Move Towards Architecture

A major turning point in Satish Gujral’s career came when he travelled to Mexico on an art scholarship. There, he encountered the country’s powerful muralist tradition and interacted with artists such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. The experience exposed him to new ideas about public art and political expression.

After returning to India, he produced a series of striking portraits of prominent political figures, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. These works combined emotional intensity with a distinctive visual language shaped by his growing artistic confidence.  

Around the same time, Gujral began exploring large-scale murals created with materials such as ceramic, stone and machined steel. Installed in institutional and public spaces across India and abroad, these monumental works showed his interest in how art could interact with architecture and the built environment.

Eventually, it led him to architecture itself. In 1977, Gujral began studying the discipline independently without formal academic training. His approach allowed him to develop a distinctive architectural style. 

Among his most celebrated projects is the Embassy of Belgium in New Delhi, built between 1980 and 1983. Other important architectural works include the Gandhi Institute in Mauritius (1978–79), the campus of Goa University, and projects for institutions such as the CMC in Hyderabad. Some of his international projects include the Al Moughtara Palace in Riyadh, the Prime Minister’s residence in Bahrain, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Mauritius, the Al Bwardy House in Dubai, as well as private residences such as the Jindal Farmhouse and the Mexx Farmhouse in New Delhi.

A Legacy Beyond Artistic Boundaries

Through paintings, sculptures, murals and architecture, Gujral consistently pushed the boundaries of artistic practice. He worked independently, often outside the commercial gallery system, guided by a desire to explore ideas across disciplines.

The centenary exhibition at NGMA offers a comprehensive view of an artist who continuously reinvented his creative language while engaging deeply with the realities of his time. His work remains a powerful reminder of how personal experience, history and experimentation can shape modern art. It presents the story of an artist whose life and work remain inseparable, and whose legacy continues to influence generations of artists and thinkers.

The Information

Satish Gujral: A Century In Form, Fire, And Vision

• Venue: National Gallery of Modern Art, Jaipur House, New Delhi

• Dates: 16 January – 30 March 2026

• Timings: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

• Closed: Mondays

Satish Gujral 100: Architecture

• Venue: The Gujral House, 16 Feroze Gandhi Road, Lajpat Nagar III, New Delhi

• Dates: Until 23 March 2026

• Timings: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

• Closed: Mondays

FAQs

1. What is the Satish Gujral 100 exhibition? 

Satish Gujral 100 is a centenary exhibition celebrating the life and work of Satish Gujral at the National Gallery of Modern Art. 

2. Where is the Satish Gujral centenary exhibition being held? 

The Satish Gujral centenary exhibition is being held at the National Gallery of Modern Art. 

3. When is the Satish Gujral exhibition open to visitors? 

The Satish Gujral centenary exhibition runs from January 16 to March 30, 2026. 

4. How many artworks are displayed in the exhibition? 

More than 160 artworks are displayed, including paintings, sculptures, murals and mixed-media works. 

5. Who was Satish Gujral? 

Satish Gujral was a renowned Indian painter, sculptor, muralist and architect whose work shaped modern Indian art.