Birla Academy of Art and Culture

Yashika Sugandh participated in a group exhibition at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata, in 2015. This presentation at one of Eastern India’s most esteemed cultural institutions occurred during a pivotal year in her artistic development, while she was pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree at Amity University.

Founded in 1967 by Late Basant Kumar and Sarala Birla, the Birla Academy of Art and Culture has been at the heart of Kolkata’s artistic and cultural life for over five decades. The institution was established with a vision to encourage and foster the growth of arts, crafts, and cultural activities, serving as a space for learning and scholarship made accessible to all. Throughout its history, the Academy has maintained a steadfast commitment to nurturing thousands of young emerging artists, researchers, practitioners, and artisans by offering them vital platforms and supporting them in the early stages of their careers.

For Sugandh, exhibiting at this prestigious Kolkata venue in 2015 represented important early recognition beyond her home base in Delhi. This opportunity, alongside her concurrent participation at ICCR in New Delhi and Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai the same year, demonstrated her expanding presence across India’s major art centers even before completing her formal education. The experience of engaging with Kolkata’s rich artistic heritage and discerning audience contributed to her developing practice and growing national visibility, laying essential groundwork for her subsequent achievements and professional launch following her graduation in 2017.