AstaGuru is pleased to present an exhibition of works by one of India’s most celebrated modernists, Krishen Khanna. The exhibition titled Symphony in Texture is on view at the AstaGuru London Office & Gallery from June 15-26, 2026.
For decades, Krishen Khanna has returned to the figure of the Bandwalla, the ceremonial brass band musician who inhabits Indian weddings, funerals, and public processions. In these musicians, the artist found not simply a recurring motif, but a profound metaphor for witnessing itself. The exhibition brings together four significant works that reveal the depth and evolution of Khanna’s engagement with the subject. Executed with commanding impasto, the paintings make for a striking collection.
“The exhibition marks a significant moment in AstaGuru’s international expansion, following the opening of our London galleries and offices earlier this year. This marks our first formal move into the international market to engage a growing global community of collectors, connoisseurs, and investors. Over the years, AstaGuru has played a pivotal role in placing the spotlight on landmark masterpieces of Indian art, shaping conversations around collecting while building a digital-first ecosystem rooted in scholarship, transparency, and curatorial excellence. The presentation of Krishen Khanna’s Bandwallas in London, marking his 100th year, continues that vision, bringing one of the most enduring and culturally resonant bodies of work in modern Indian art into a global context,” says Laryssa Jesse, Managing Director
Krishen Khanna’s Bandwallas are not portraits in the conventional sense. They are meditations on labour, anonymity, performance, and quiet resilience. Often turned away from the viewer or absorbed within themselves, the musicians appear suspended between presence and disappearance, embodying a form of witnessing that asks for nothing in return. The presentation in London carries a particular resonance. The ceremonial attire of the Indian brass band traces its origins to colonial military uniforms, making the exhibition a subtle meditation on cultural inheritance and transformation. In bringing these works to London, the journey of that visual language comes full circle.
Widely regarded as one of the last surviving members of the Progressive generation of Indian modernists, Krishen Khanna continues to paint with extraordinary vitality and emotional depth. This exhibition offers viewers an intimate encounter with one of the most enduring and iconic bodies of work in modern Indian art.
Symphony in Texture is on view from-
June 15th to 26th 2026
Viewing Times: Monday – Friday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm & Saturday: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
AstaGuru UK
4, Cromwell Place
London, SW7 2JE
For press queries, please reach out to:
Ayesha Bachaw – ayesha@astaguru.com
