Biography
Nikhil Chaganlal
Nikhil Chaganlal (b. 1961, Mumbai) is a self-taught artist whose practice spans more than three decades. His work has evolved from deeply personal paintings rooted in memory, interiors, desire and belonging into an abstract visual language inspired by water, energy, movement and light.
The son of Haresh Chaganlal, a prominent Mumbai art collector in the 1950s and 60s, Chaganlal grew up with an early exposure to art that would become an enduring part of his own journey.
Working primarily on canvas, he combines acrylic paint with industrial chemical sealants traditionally used in Mumbai’s fishing-boat industry. Painting almost exclusively at night by candlelight, he builds his works through numerous layers, allowing each to dry in sunlight before continuing. The process creates surfaces of remarkable depth, luminosity and sculptural richness, which are ultimately chemically sealed, making them waterproof and highly durable.
For much of his career, Chaganlal’s paintings have functioned as a painterly autobiography, drawing on memories of childhood and an inward exploration of emotion, desire and spirituality. His current practice explores immersive experiences of sensation, energy, emotion and movement- paintings that, in his words, “are not works for interpretation, but experiences.”
Now living and working in Goa, Chaganlal continues to explore his abstract visual language that reflects his philosophical and spiritual inward journey.
Since his first solo exhibition in 1998, his work has been presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions in India and internationally. His recent solo exhibitions include Songs of Rebirth (2024) and Intimate Vistas of the Interiors (2025) at Art Musings, Mumbai. His work is held in significant private collections and was offered at Sotheby’s, London, in 2000.
When I think about art…
I think about something intrinsic to my life…
When I think about painting…
I think of it as an essential luxury for myself and for others…
To create a space, mood and thought…
Is to live within a dream…
This perfectly articulates my life’s journey…
- Nikhil Chaganlal
Encountering the REALM OF FORMS
I have been painting full time for over 3 decades and always seek a spiritual response in and to my work. I’ve always had a visual language and given it space and form from a young age of 14.
In the world of abstract paintings it’s diving deep into myself and encountering the unfamiliar subconscious. It’s an unplanned inward journey on every canvas.This process is the choosing of shades and forms and working them into layers.
My inspiration comes from artists like William de Kooning and Zao Wou Ki. Most of the works I paint are by candlelight at night. This process invokes and creates deep moods and thoughts which transfer into shapes and forms. The shadows cast by the flicker of candle flames affects the light on my canvas and how I approach my choices of a multi-colour palette, especially gold and shading – a play of light and shadows with colour. I paint on the floor and work around the four sides of the canvas at once. Everyday is documented on my canvases much like a daily diary of what’s on in my mind.
This bold, busy and bright body of work is a mix of anxiety & excitement which is my nature. My paintings grow into and out of one another like an ecosystem here in my studio.
The fascination is turning liquid soft paint (through my mind’s eye, hand and fingers) into solid dry paint, an irreversible process of acrylic on canvas, marks left forever beyond my lifetime, almost letting me feel immortality.
I like to expose the actual infliction and marks to the actual painting.That I hope will connect my energy and mood to the viewer.
I’m always interested in busy and bold forms and compositions which overwhelm and inspire others in my maximalist style of work on canvas.
I never have preconceived ideas of how my painting is going to look.
I go with the flow and let my painting lead me. I completely surrender to the realm of forms for my conscious and subconscious states at night expressing my anxiety and excitement. This in itself is an art of spiritual meditation and exercise. My ultimate objective is to evoke a deep response from the viewer’s eyes and heart and for a fraction of time me and my viewer have become one through my work.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
- 2026 "Interior Portraits”, Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata
- 2025 “Intimate Vistas of the Interiors”, Art Musings, Mumbai
- 2025 "Songs of Rebirth”, Art Musings, Mumbai
- 2010 "Intimate Vistas of the Interior', Art Musings, Mumbai
- 2008 The British High Commission’s Residence, Khushii, Delhi
- 2006 Cymroza Gallery, Concern India Foundation, Breach Candy, Mumbai
- 2004 Concern India Foundation, Artist Centre Ador House, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai
- 2003 Ashish Nagpal Gallery, Juhu, Mumbai, India
- 2002 Ashish Nagpal Gallery, Juhu, Mumbai, India
- 2001 Ashish Nagpal Gallery, Juhu, Mumbai, India
- 2000 The Gallery Art Resource Trust, Tulsiani Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai, India
- 1998 The Classic Source Gallery, Chowpatty seaface, Mumbai, India
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
- 2008 Oberoi Art Camp
- 2008 Samsara Art – at Taj Lands End, Bandra, Mumbai
- 2008 Art For Concern, The Taj Mahal Hotel, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai.
- 2008 Art Expo India, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.
- 2007 Art For Concern, The Taj Mahal Hotel, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai.
- 2007 India on Canvas, Khushii, The Royal Western India Turf Club, Mumbai.
- 2006 Organic Art Gallery, Sitges, Spain 15th August
- 2006 Art for Water for Life, June, at Cymroza Art Gallery, Breach Candy, Mumbai.
- 2006 Art For Concern Auction, 9th March conducted by “CHRISTIES” The Taj Mahal Hotel, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai.
- 2006 Harmony Art Show, Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai.
- 2005 Art For Concern, The Taj Mahal Hotel, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai.
- 2005 Associated Capsules World Wide Gallery Art Resource Trust, Mumbai.
- 2004 Concern India Foundation Auction (Art For Concern) at The Taj Mahal Hotel, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai.
- 2003 Art For Hearts Sake, Auction conducted by Bowrings, 16th April Mumbai.
- 2003 Osians Auction for Indian Modern and Contemporary Paintings 27th November Mumbai.
- 2002 Jehangir Art Gallery, Photo Exhibition 15th 17th December.
- 2002 Jehangir Art Gallery, Photo Exhibition 15th 17th December.
- 2000 Gallerie D'Art, Grand Baie, Mauritius
- 2000 Indian Miniature paintings were sold at Sotheby’s Auction House in London on June 8th.
- 2000 Art Folio Space, Raffles Hotel, Singapore
- 2000 NGMA (National Gallery of Modern Art), Mumbai, Organized by the Arts Trust, 14th March.