I Had a Dream… is a solo exhibition featuring Kiran Dixit Thacker’s sculptures, paintings, and drawings, scheduled to take place at the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, from October 4 to 10, 2026. The exhibition will open on October 4th at 6:30 pm, inaugurated by special guests Sri Mrinal Ghosh, renowned art critic and author; Vikram Bachhawat, art curator and gallery owner; Sri Pankaj Panwar, Professor at Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan; and Sutanu Chatterjee, Associate Professor in the Department of Sculpture at Kala-Bhavana, Santiniketan.

Kiran Dixit Thacker, a direct student of Ramkinkar Baij, may be the only living female artist actively practicing in his lineage. At seventy-nine, Kiran enjoys working with different media but favors experimenting more with metal, clay, and stone. She has an extensive body of work, including sculptures, paintings, and drawings, all breathtaking. The Academy of Fine Arts will exhibit over 180 of her works from October 4 to 10, 2026, between 4 pm and 8 pm.

Speaking about her upcoming exhibition, I Had a Dream…, Kiran said, “Uncertainty marked my tender years; dreaming was a luxury I could not sustain. At twelve, when I was sent to a boarding school in Benaras, I found the liberty to think and dream. My art teachers, all from Kala Bhavana in Santiniketan, fostered my creativity and sparked my wish to study there. That became my dream”.

 After surmounting great obstacles, she finally arrived at Santiniketan’s serene setting and studied under esteemed masters, her Gurus. That’s when “my artistic journey truly began”. In 1969, after earning her Diploma in Fine Arts, she relocated to England and pursued a four-year B.Ed. and taught craft and design for more than thirty years. In 2000, upon returning to Santiniketan, her career as an artist and sculptor found its truest expression.

While studying at Santiniketan, Kiran got to know Ramkinkar Baij, who is regarded as the father of modern Indian sculpture. Recalling those days fondly, she said “We would get clay for him, and he would carve out different shapes and bodies right before our eyes”. To this day, she holds dear her tutor’s guidance and remembers each lesson taught.

Most of Kiran’s work is figurative, and she says all kinds of shapes and forms inspire her. Santiniketan and its picturesque surroundings have served as the origin for most of her creative endeavors. She aims to capture the core of the subject without unnecessary embellishments. She strives for simplicity in form, much like Cezanne, wishing to follow the path I have found.

Her work reflects an analytical perspective shaped by both Eastern and Western educational traditions. She hopes her solo exhibition, I had a Dream…, thoughtfully investigates her artistic beliefs and practice.

Priyanka Dutta