Gallery Sumukha Marks 30th Anniversary in Bengaluru's Wilson Garden

Gallery Sumukha, founded by 73-year-old Premilla Baid, is marking its 30th anniversary this month at its premises in Wilson Garden, Bengaluru. Operating out of a mixed-use building shared with a neuro clinic, the space has served as a prominent fixture in the city's art scene since its inception.

Founded in 1996, the gallery initially operated from Baid's home before moving to the Alliance Francaise building. In 1999, it relocated to its current address in Wilson Garden. Designed by architect Vikram Sardesai, the 5,000-square-foot facility is the largest private gallery space in South India, created to accommodate large-scale installations, sculptures, and multimedia showcases.

Baid, who is self-taught, started the gallery alongside her medical practice after returning to India following six years in Ireland. Inspired by Sara Abraham's Kala Yatra, she organized her first exhibition for a charitable organization at the Oberoi Hotel in 1996, which sold artworks valued at around Rs 5 lakh. Baid has maintained the gallery through self-funding and personal savings, prioritizing sustainable operations over rapid commercial expansion.

In the 1990s, Bengaluru had very few commercial contemporary art spaces. Artist and sculptor Balan Nambiar noted that until the 1970s, the city had limited freelance artists and commercial galleries, with exhibitions predominantly held by the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath at the Vidhana Soudha banquet hall or at spaces like Kritika Gallery on St. Marks Road. Sumukha established itself as one of the city's earliest dedicated contemporary art galleries before expanding its presence to international art fairs during the 2000s and 2010s.

Biocon chairperson and art collector Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw noted that the gallery helped elevate Bengaluru's art landscape by introducing structured professionalism and curated events. Artist Pushpamala N. added that the space has hosted experimental work, talks, book releases, and educational walkthroughs for students.

Over the past three decades, Gallery Sumukha has mounted an estimated 230 shows and collaborated with more than 100 artists. Its exhibitions have featured works by regional and national artists, including Yusuf Arakkal, S.G. Vasudev, Gulammohammed Sheikh, K. Laxma Goud, Atul Dodiya, Pushpamala N., G. Ravinder Reddy, Ravikumar Kashi, and Paresh Maity.