In November as winter started to come down on Kolkata, the much-awaited second edition of the Salt Lake Affordable Art Fair was held at the Aikatan Cultural Centre, celebrating the vibrant creativity of artists from across Bengal. For three days, between 1.30 and 8.30 pm visitors poured in to witness the unique art fair The fair was inaugurated by Chief Guest Mr. Aneesh Sarkar, IPS and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate along with Guests of Honour Ms. Ruchika Gupta, President – Sanmarg Group and Mr. Debashis Sen, Founder-Director, New Bengal Consulting Ltd (Ex-IAS, Former Chairman – HIDCO) Joining them was Ms. Mallika Chanda, Curator of the event and Founder of DAUGHTOR, Art House.
Art patrons and other distinguished guests present were Guru Sanchita Bhattacharyaa (International Odissi Dancer),Ms Bhavna Hemani (Social Cultural Ambassador), Mr Ashif Shah (Educationist), and Ms Priyanka Mimani (Owner – Cake Xpress). This spectacular event is a celebration of accessible art, featuring over 100 talented artists and more than 2000 captivating artworks. From paintings and sculptures to photography and mixed media, the fair offers something for every art enthusiast. Visitors can also enjoy live portrait and caricatures along with pottery sessions, offering a hands-on creative experience. The inauguration ceremony began with a dance performance by special child Neelabho Nandi from Julian Day New Mission School. Born with Downs’ Syndrome , Neelabho finds great freedom in dance. He danced on the Nazrul Geeti “Mahaprano Jaage”! The chief guest and other dignitaries also showed their artistic talents by leaving their palm prints on a canvas as a symbolic gesture to support the opening.
Speaking about the initiative, Ms Mallika Chanda shared, “Our vision has always been to democratize art — to take it beyond galleries and make it part of everyday life. Through the Salt Lake Affordable Art Fair, we hope to nurture a stronger relationship between artists and the community, where appreciation and accessibility go hand in hand. Bengal has always been a land of immense artistic talent, but many gifted artists remain unseen. This fair is our way of giving them visibility and voice. It’s also about reminding people that art isn’t just for collectors — it’s for everyone who wants to be moved by creativity.”
Affordability remains at the heart of the fair, with artworks priced from Rs 500/- ensuring inclusivity and enabling a wide audience to appreciate and acquire exceptional pieces directly from the artists. Prominent participating artists include Satyabrata Karmakar, Monalisa Sarkar, Nur Ali, Indrajit Narayan, Mintu Mallick, Dip Narayan Paul, Sujit Karmakar, Aditi Chakraborty amongst others. Attendees of future fairs too can look forward to a diverse range of artistic styles and mediums, making this event a unique opportunity to discover emerging talent and acquire original artworks at affordable prices. The Salt Lake Affordable Art Fair promises to be a cultural extravaganza not to be missed, inviting art lovers, collectors, and the general public to immerse themselves in a world of creativity and expression.
is indebted to have been supported by Camarus(film production company), News Mania, Simpleweb creation and Evergreen Events. About DAUGHTOR Daughtor is a new-age art house founded by Mallika Chanda, a former corporate professional with over two decades of experience in IT and banking. Mallika’s lifelong fascination with the visual world — nurtured by childhood storybooks filled with vivid imagery — blossomed into a deep appreciation for art and artists. In 2017, she founded Daughtor to support contemporary artists across generations, from seasoned masters to undiscovered talents. The gallery’s mission is to discover and promote exceptional yet lesser-known artists, giving them a platform to share their creativity with wider audiences.
(The writer is a freelance contributor)