Khanjan Dalal

Khanjan Dalal studied painting at M. S. University, Baroda between 1994 -98 and sculpture at the Gerrit Rietveld Akademie, Amsterdam 2000-01. In late 2010 in order to pursue his career as an artist, Khanjan left the business of running the successful Lemongrass Art Gallery. Initially working on flat surfaces like painting and digital art, in 2013, to explore another dimension of plastic arts, he joined a local ceramic studio owned by a product designer. It was his teacher, the veteran ceramist Jyotsna Bhatt, who suggested that he should learn wood firing with Ray Meeker at the iconic Golden Bridge Pottery in Pondicherry. In 2014 he was fortunate to attend his first Anagama firing there, that left a deep impression on his way of working. For the next few years he became a regular at firing the anagama at GBP; till in 2020 he decided to build a train kiln at his Ahmedabad studio.

The works Khanjan currently produces, employ a technique of not-too-long firings using locally sourced clay and wood in a version of a self-built train-kiln, lovingly called "Bhasm (sacred ash) Express". For him, every firing is an experiment that explores multiple dimensions in wood firings. He has recently been working on a series of wall based works, created with two types of stoneware and two types of semi-porcelain clay-bodies, engineered from locally sourced materials. The unique amalgamation of molten ash of 4 different kinds of local woods and minerals from the clays, fired to cone 11/12 for 50 to 60 hours, create a plethora of marks and effects on the surfaces that vary with every firing.

Khanjan is represented by 079 Stories, a gallery specializing in offering a platform to contemporary artists from India nationally and globally. He has had 5 solo exhibitions and has participated in group exhibitions in art fairs, galleries and museums across India and internationally. (please refer to the CV for more details)

Apart from his personal practice, he has initialed and helped numerous initiatives in the field of ceramic arts and crafts on a national and international level. He was one of the first financial supporters of the first Indian Ceramic Triennale that took place in Jaipur in 2018; a significantly critical event which was mindfully curated by 7 extremely talented ceramists, the first of its kind in India.

In 2020 Khanjan initiated and curated the first Independent Ahmedabad Studio Potters Festival, a recurring event that features 20 invited studio potters and 5 to 10 contemporary ceramic sculptors and installation artists every couple of years.

In 2021 Khanjan along with artist /colleague, IAC member Falguni Bhatt has co-founded the Indian Ceramic Art Foundation (ICAF), a concern of MRIN Foundation, which is a non-profit knowledge sharing platform working towards the betterment of ceramic arts and crafts on the Indian sub-continent. MRIN, a journal of Indian ceramic arts is published bi-annually.

Recently Khanjan was invited to curate a special exhibition 'SRENI' – navigating caste, class, religion and gender in post colonial India at the Australian ceramic Triannale- Perth WA. The exhibition featured 14 Ceramic artists from India with diverse background and regions of the subcontinent where 1/3 were from traditional potters families.

Also Khanjan has been elected as a new permanent member of IAC( international Academy of Ceramics- Geneva- Switzerland) in October 2025. The artist continues to live and work in Ahmedabad, India.

Born on 5th April, 1975.

Education: BFA – department of painting, M.S. University, Vadodara – 1994-98. Studied at the department of autonomous sculpture at Gerrit Reitveld Akademie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands – 2000-1.

List of One Person Shows: Discourses – Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai – 2021. Recap in Peace at The Satya Art Gallery, Ahmedabad – 2016. ‘Reboot’ – Amdavad Ni Gufa – Ahmedabad – April 2012. ‘The House Project’ – Performance & Digital Art in an empty house in Ahmedabad – 2002. ‘Scrolls and other signs’ at Kunst Centrum, Haagweg 4, Leiden, Netherlands – 1999. Solo Show at the Contemporary Art Gallery, Ahmedabad – 1999.

List of Selected Group Shows: ‘Raakh a river of consciousness’, a group exhibition of 10 ceramists in conjunction with NCECA, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 2023. Art Of India, Times Of India, Mumbai, 2023. Bhu – Tatva, a group exhibition at Emami Art, Kolkata, 2023. ‘Enigma of absence’ – a two person show at The India Art Fair – New Delhi, 2023. The firing Line – group show at Art Heritage, New Delhi curated by Kristine Micheal. Marks in time/through time – two person show at gallery Latitude 28, New Delhi, 2022. Earthen Transmutations – online exhibition with gallery Latitude 28, New Delhi, 2021. Peppery soliloquy – a group exhibition curated by Georgina Maddox at gallery Art Centrix, New Delhi, 2021. “Know…not this” a two person exhibition with Radhika Hamlai at gallery 079 stories, 2019. ‘Under Water Expedition’ – A sketchbook was created during a Scuba Diving Course in Bali, Indonesia – 2002. Exhibition held at Ambavad ni Gufa – 2002. Ritveld Akademie, Amsterdam, Netherlands – 2001. Baroda Ligaty, curated by Sasha Altaf at Fine Art Inc – Mumbai 1999.

List of Selected Curatorial Projects: Raakh a river of consciousness, an exhibition of 10 ceramists whose uses ash in their works literally or metaphorically from across the Globe. This exhibition was co curated by Ms. Antra Sinha – 2023. ‘Patterns’ – A collaborative group show of Scientists, Artists, Designers and Craftsmen at the Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad during Ahmedabad Arts Festival 2011. ‘Nature Morte – Repositioned’ – A workshop followed by an exhibition of 6 invited artists based on still life. Gallery Lemongrasshopper – 2010. ‘Mind the Gap’ Exhibition of artist Rajesh Sagara. His sculptures were installed on the Heritage Route of Ahmedabad – 2010. ‘Crows – A Journey Back to the Nest’ – multi media installation of artist Amit Ambalal. Site-specific installation at The Ahmedabad Textile Mills Association (ATMA), Ahmedabad. This building was designed by Le Corbusier – 2006.

List of Workshops Attended: Native Clay – a workshop by artist Tim Rowen at Golden Bridge Pottery, Puducherry, 2015. Developing Glazes – a workshop by Greg Dely at Anvi pottery, 2017. A workshop by Bruce Dehnert at Golden Bridge Pottery, 2019.

The artist lives and works in Ahmedabad, India.