Director's Profile

Vikram Bachhawat

Vikram Bachhawat

Gallerist | Artist | Collector | Editor | Publisher

Born 1962 | Based in Kolkata, India

 

Profile

Vikram Bachhawat is a well-known figure in the Indian art world, with a professional career spanning nearly four decades across multiple domains—gallery practice, art publishing, modern and contemporary painting, and vintage collectibles. As the founder of Aakriti Art Gallery (2005) and co-founder of Emami Chisel Art (2007), he has played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of Indian modern and contemporary art, both within India and in the global market.

Early Life and Influences

Born into a family steeped in the arts, Vikram’s father, Manik Bachhawat, was among Bengal’s earliest post-Independence art collectors and a noted critic; his mother, Panne Kunwar, was a self taught painter. This familial milieu of artistic dialogue deeply influenced Vikram’s own intellectual and creative pursuits. He began painting from a young age and later developed a distinctive abstract style that combines gestural expression with structural depth. His works, though rarely exhibited, are held in the private collections of many senior artists, friends and connoisseurs.

Gallerist and Curator

In 2005, Vikram founded Aakriti Art Gallery in Kolkata under Chisel Craft Pvt. Ltd., envisioning it as a platform to engage both canonical masters and emerging voices in Indian art. The gallery has hosted landmark solo exhibitions by stalwarts such as Satish Gujral, Ganesh Pyne, Rabin Mondal, Bikash Bhattacharjee, K.G. Subramanyan, Sakti Burman, and Ramkumar. It has also institutionalized key annual events such as GenNext, focused on young talent; the Affordable September Art Mela, designed to democratize art access and collecting; and Masterpieces, showcasing rare and important works.

In 2007, Vikram co-founded Emami Chisel Art, a pioneering gallery-auction hybrid. He curated and managed the historic auction where M.F. Husain’s painting Safdar Hashmi crossed the million-dollar mark (INR 4.4 crores), becoming the first Husain work to do so at an auction in India. This landmark event helped establish Indian modern art as a viable global investment category.

Art Publishing and Editorial Contributions

Vikram’s commitment to art documentation is exemplified by his decade-long role as Editor and Publisher of Art News & Views, a quarterly journal (2006–2016) that served as a vital platform for critical writing, interviews, and archival essays. The journal featured contributions by leading art historians and critics and continues to be referenced in academic circles.

He has also commissioned and published important books and exhibition catalogues under the Aakriti imprint. Forthcoming publications include:

  • Modern Sculpture in Bengal: Creative Legacy of More Than One and a Half Centuries (1850s–2024) by Mrinal Ghosh
  • Reflections & Responses: On Rediscovering Ananda Mohan Shaha
  • Protest Art in India: From Colonial Resistance to Contemporary Dissent
Collector and Glassware Authority

Beyond fine art, Vikram is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in carnival glass and decorative arts. He began collecting at the age of 16 under the banner of Konark Collectables. His rare collection includes Indian carnival glass, vintage horse-racing memorabilia, and World War II artefacts.

Notably, he was invited by Glen Thistlewood—the foremost authority on carnival glass in the UK—to identify and name several previously undocumented patterns based on his discoveries. His insights have been published in Thistlewood’s journal. He is also cited in Mike Carwile’s authoritative Carnival Glass Encyclopedia (USA), making him the only Indian collector with such global recognition in this field.

Engagement with Sport and Art

A long-time horse racing enthusiast, Vikram owns several racehorses trained across turf clubs in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Mysore. He has merged his interests in art and sport by commissioning artist-designed trophies, including the Aakriti Art Gallery Million Trophy sculpted by Akhil Chandra Das, presented at RWITC in 2025. His efforts reflect a unique commitment to creative crossovers between aesthetics and sporting culture.

Philanthropy and Legacy

Vikram has actively supported charitable causes for artists, including fundraising for Naktala Shilpi Astha, an initiative aiding financially distressed practitioners. He is also involved in long-term heritage conservation efforts, especially concerning India’s historic cultural landmarks.

Areas of Expertise
  • Modern & Contemporary Indian Art
  • Art Market Dynamics and Auction History
  • Abstract Painting
  • Indian Sculpture Historiography
  • Carnival Glass & Decorative Arts
  • Curatorial Practice & Publishing
  • Racehorse Ownership and Sporting Memorabilia
Key Achievements and Recognitions
  • Co-curated the first Indian art auction to surpass USD 1 million (M.F. Husain’s Safdar Hashmi, 2008)
  • Editor & Publisher of Art News & Views (2006–2016)
  • Invited contributor to Glen Thistlewood’s Carnival Glass Journal (UK)
  • Profiled in Mike Carwile’s Carnival Glass Encyclopedia (USA)
  • Founding Director of Aakriti Art Gallery, celebrating 20 years in 2025
  • Founder of Konark Collectables, one of Kolkata’s most unique vintage stores

Vikram Bachhawat’s wide-ranging contributions span curation, creation, collection, and critical discourse. Rooted in the cultural ethos of Bengal yet global in reach, he remains one of the most passionate and intellectually engaged art professionals in India today. Whether in a gallery, a collector’s archive, an artist’s studio, or an auction hall, his presence continues to shape the future of Indian art.