20th Collage International Art Carnival underway in Delhi

The 20th edition of the Collage International Art Carnival (CIAC 2026), organised by the Delhi College of Art, is currently underway at the Lalit Kala Akademi, Mandi House, marking two decades of the institution’s sustained engagement with collective artistic practice and cultural exchange.

The six-day carnival, founded and curated by Ashwani Kumar Prithviwasi, Founder and Director of the Delhi College of Art, was inaugurated on January 13 by artist and cultural institution-builder Bose Krishnamachari, Co-Founder and President of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, who attended the event as chief guest.

At the inaugural ceremony, the BC Sanyal Award was conferred on Sanjeev Kishore Gautam, Director General of the National Gallery of Modern Art; Sanjeev Kumar, Principal of the College of Art; and Bindulika Sharma, Dean of the Department of Fine Art at Jamia Millia Islamia. Krishnamachari was also presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution to contemporary art and cultural institution-building in India.

Curated around the theme Collective Energy, the 20th edition foregrounds ideas of collaboration, solidarity and shared cultural responsibility. The exhibition reflects a dialogue between classical sensibilities and contemporary expression, with works spanning oil and watercolour paintings, charcoal and acrylic works, installations and mixed-media practices.

More than 800 artists and students from India and abroad are participating in the carnival. The event brings together public and educational institutions such as the College of Art, University of Delhi; Jamia Millia Islamia; Triveni Kala Sangam; the National Gallery of Modern Art; Sarada Ukil School of Art; Shilpa Bharti Institute of Fine Art and Craft; and Sahitya Kala Parishad. Several private galleries and art spaces from the Delhi-NCR region, including Nature Morte, Dhoomimal Art Gallery, Vadhera Art Gallery, Bluedot Art Gallery and Uchaan Art Gallery, are also participating through curated stalls and exhibitions.

In addition to the exhibition, CIAC 2026 features live art demonstrations, performances, academic talks, panel discussions and interactive sessions. Digital, video and time-based works form a key focus this year, with large LED screens and projection systems installed across the venue. The organisers said artworks are being offered at affordable prices to encourage wider public engagement and art collecting.

Art talks during the carnival include sessions by Harshvardhan, artist and art adviser to the NDMC; Sacchidanand Joshi of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts; and artists Arpana Caur and Dharmendra Rathore. A live watercolour demonstration by eminent artist Prafulla Sawant is also part of the programme.

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Speaking at the opening, Prithviwasi said the carnival had grown into a collective cultural movement, reflecting the coming together of artists, students and institutions. He highlighted the Delhi College of Art’s continued focus on free art education for needy and special students, support for orphaned and underprivileged children, and initiatives for emerging artists, adding that over 50 scholarships are being awarded as part of CIAC 2026.

The 20th Collage International Art Carnival will continue at the Lalit Kala Akademi until January 18, and is open to the public from 11 AM to 7 PM.

When: until January 18; 11 AM to 7 PM

Where: Lalit Kala Akademi, Mandi House, New Delhi