Serendipity Arts Showcases Six Emerging Artists at the Open Studio of the Serendipity Arts Residency 2026

Serendipity Arts Showcases Six Emerging Artists at the Open Studio of the Serendipity Arts Residency 2026

Panaji, July 2026: Serendipity Arts, the cultural organisation behind the annual Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, presents the Open Studio of the Serendipity Arts Residency 2026, the culmination of its three-month residency programme. From 31st July to 7th August, the Serendipity Arts Foundation will showcase the artistic discovery that was shaped through months of research, experimentation and dialogue.

Now in its ninth edition, the Residency continues to provide artists with the time, space and mentorship to develop ambitious new practices beyond the conventional exhibition format. This year’s residents, Gopinath Kshetrimayum, Vanshika Rathore, Smiha Kapoor, Nirmal Mondal, Pratik Anil Sutar, and Josefina Paz (participating through Villa Swagatam, the French Institute in India’s residency programme) will present new works developed through months of research, experimentation and interdisciplinary exchange. Together, their practices explore themes of memory, ecology, migration, labour, craft, mythology and collective histories through diverse artistic mediums.

Shefali Munjal, Co-Founder & Patron of Serendipity Arts, said, “The Residency creates the conditions for artists to experiment freely, think deeply and build meaningful connections across disciplines. The Open Studio reflects three months of sustained research, dialogue and creative exploration, and we are delighted to share these evolving practices with audiences.”

Smriti Rajgarhia, Director of Serendipity Arts, added, “The Open Studio offers visitors a rare opportunity to engage with artistic processes as they unfold. This year’s cohort has developed thoughtful and compelling works that reflect both individual perspectives and the richness of collaborative exchange.”

Highlights from this year’s Open Studio include abstract paintings exploring memory and resilience by Gopinath Kshetrimayum; ecological sculptural installations by Vanshika Rathore; participatory works inspired by the Punjabi tradition of Trinjan by Smiha Kapoor; ceramic installations reinterpreting Bengal’s folk traditions by Nirmal Mondal; sculptural works examining labour and inherited craft by Pratik Anil Sutar; and multidisciplinary installations on language, migration and belonging by Josefina Paz.

The Open Studio will also feature artist walkthroughs, performances, workshops and conversations throughout the week, offering audiences multiple ways to engage with the residents’ evolving practices and the ideas shaping their work. A detailed programme schedule will be announced shortly.

Image 1: Josefina Paz (El Salvador/France), a resident of Serendipity Arts Residency 2026, is a multidisciplinary artist exploring themes of migration, identity and belonging through drawing, textiles, sound, installation and performance.

Image 2: Gopinath Kshetrimayum (Imphal, Manipur), resident of the Serendipity Arts Residency 2026, is a visual artist whose abstract oil paintings explore memory, landscape and lived experience through layered processes of experimentation, transformation and material exploration.

Image 3: Nirmal Mondal (Murshidabad, West Bengal), resident of the Serendipity Arts Residency 2026, is a ceramic artist whose practice explores history, personal narratives and material experimentation at the intersection of traditional craft and contemporary expression.

Image 4: Pratik Anil Sutar (Kolhapur, Maharashtra), resident of the Serendipity Arts Residency 2026, is a visual artist and sculptor whose practice explores memory, material and inherited craft traditions through contemporary sculptural forms.

Image 5: Smiha Kapoor (New Delhi), resident of the Serendipity Arts Residency 2026, is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans performance, sound, installation and community participation, exploring embodiment, cultural memory and collective knowledge.

Image 6: Vanshika Rathore (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh), resident of the Serendipity Arts Residency 2026, is a sculptor whose practice explores materiality, nature and memory through intuitive, process-driven works using wood, clay, terracotta, glass, cement and found objects.