Kalaburagi artist showcases Surpur paintings at Rashtrapati Bhavan

A Surpur-style miniature painting depicting a royal couple, created by Kalaburagi artist Rehaman Patel and exhibited at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of the Artists-in-Residence programme. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT A Surpur-style painting of Lord Ganesha by Kalaburagi artist Rehaman Patel, one of the artworks displayed at Rashtrapati Bhavan during the Artists-in-Residence programme. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Surpur miniature painting artist Rehaman Patel of Kalaburagi has brought laurels to Karnataka by participating in the prestigious ‘Artists-in-Residence’ programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, where he showcased the rich artistic heritage of the Surpur school of painting. President Droupadi Murmu posing for a group photograph with artists selected for the ‘Artists-in-Residence’ programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday. Kalaburagi artist Rehaman Patel, who represented Karnataka’s Surpur school of miniature painting, is among the participants. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT President Droupadi Murmu recently interacted with the participating artists representing India’s diverse traditional art forms and viewed their works displayed as part of the special residency programme.The programme brought together 12 artists representing various traditional art forms, including Banaras Mural, Thangka, Nayaka, Kerala Mural, Basohli, Surpur and Mysore painting. During the residency, the artists stayed at Rashtrapati Bhavan and exhibited their works, highlighting India’s rich artistic traditions.Representing Karnataka, Mr. Patel displayed two Surpur-style miniature paintings and he created another painting based on the Panchatantra. The President appreciated the artists’ efforts in preserving India’s traditional art heritage and emphasised the importance of passing these cultural traditions on to future generations.The Artists-in-Residence programme is a prestigious initiative aimed at celebrating India’s traditional art forms, promoting cultural preservation and strengthening the country’s artistic identity.Mr. Patel’s selection has brought national recognition to the Surpur school of miniature painting and is regarded as a significant achievement for Karnataka’s cultural heritage.Born on June 1, 1975, in Gola (K) village near Shahabad in Kalaburagi district, Mr. Patel holds a degree in Fine Arts from Gulbarga University and a PhD for his research on the Bidri art. He has devoted over three decades to the preservation, practice and promotion of Surpur painting.His contributions to traditional Indian art have earned him several prestigious fellowships and awards. He received the Junior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in 2002 for his research on Surpur painting and the Karnataka Shilpakala Academy Fellowship in 2014 for research on the Bidri art.Mr. Patel has received numerous national and international honours, including awards from the South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur, the Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation, the Hyderabad Art Society, the International Shorang Art Group, Sri Lanka, and the Karnataka Lalithakala Academy State Annual Award-2025.His works are part of the permanent collections of several institutions, including the National Gallery of Modern Art, Lalit Kala Akademi, the South Central Zone Cultural Centre, the Karnataka Lalithakala Academy, the Karnataka Urdu Academy, and the Haegyeonggang Theme Museum in South Korea. He has also represented India in international art exhibitions and camps held in Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Germany, South Korea, Turkey and Egypt. Published - July 30, 2026 10:03 pm IST