Kolkata’s design scene gets a glam makeover! Inside the stunning design cultures 2026 showcase at KCC
Kolkata’s design landscape gets a major boost as Design Cultures 2026 – The Art of Contemporary Living opens at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity, bringing together some of India’s most celebrated design brands, studios and creative minds under one roof.
Presented by Raw Collaborative in partnership with the city’s newly launched creative initiative Aakar, the large-scale curated exhibition marks Raw’s first showcase in Kolkata and signals the beginning of a broader cross-disciplinary cultural exchange for the city.
At its core, Design Cultures 2026 is an immersive exhibition experience. Visitors will encounter thoughtfully designed displays featuring collectible carpets, sculptural furniture, experimental lighting, bespoke textiles and material-led installations — offering an opportunity to both discover and acquire contemporary Indian design.
Participating names include OBEETEE Carpets & Home, Tilfi, Tectona Grandis, Muse Mart, Ochre at Home, The Wallmakers, Beyond Homes, Wolf Jaipur, Barracat, Qaleen, Studio Metallurgy, Vivaarta Design, Kasa Privé and Gondwana Art Project, among other established brands and emerging studios.
A key highlight of the exhibition is the OBEETEE Gallery, a specially curated presentation supported by OBEETEE Carpets & Home. The gallery brings together 8 designers who reinterpret the hand-knotted carpet in distinctive and unexpected ways
Supporting Aakar’s broader vision is a Creative Dialogue Collective, bringing together prominent voices across disciplines: Jayasri Burman (Indian Contemporary Artist), Swarup Dutta (Multidisciplinary Art & Design Practitioner), Richa Agarwal (Chairperson, KCC & CEO, Emami Art), Ajay Arya (Interior Designer & Founder, A Square Designs), Ruchika Gupta (President, Sanmarg Group), Sneha Singhi (Chef & F&B Consultant), Rajesh Gupta (Filmmaker & Founder, Lensocrat), Anupama Jalan (Ceramic Artist, Pottery by AJ), Aditi Jalan (Interior Designer, Beyond Homes) and Gauri Bajoria (Lifestyle Designer & Brand Advisor).
Design Cultures 2026 opens at Kolkata Centre for Creativity, inviting architects, collectors, design enthusiasts and the wider public to experience some of the most compelling contemporary design practices in India today.
“While Design Cultures is our inaugural exhibition, Aakar is envisioned as more than a platform for design alone,” say Bhawna Agarwal and Ritu Bansal, Founders of Aakar.
“Our aim is to bring diverse creative disciplines together — art, design, cinema, craft and hospitality — to foster new collaborations and expose Kolkata to evolving contemporary practices from across the country. This exhibition at KCC marks the first step in building that sustained creative exchange for the city."
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