Vidhi Gupta
15-Sep-2026
CAMRAAS Art Experiential Centre is where a collector can discover a new artist, where an artist can find a new audience, and where a conversation over a work of art can become the beginning of something much larger.
In a city where cultures, ideas and communities constantly intersect, CAMRAAS: Art Experiential Centre offers a different way of encountering art one that is intimate, considered and deeply experiential.
Located in a villa in Al Barsha South 1, Dubai, CAMRAAS was conceived as more than a conventional gallery.
The name derives from the Indian word kamra, meaning “room”, reflecting the centre’s philosophy of creating individual viewing rooms and experiences where art can be discovered at a more personal pace.
Founded with the belief that art should invite conversation rather than simply be observed, CAMRAAS brings together a carefully curated roster of artists chosen by a jury of 14 members from different walks of life in order to form a collection that shares voices across different practices, backgrounds and perspectives.
The centre is intentionally intimate and operates primarily through personal invitations and a growing community of collectors, artists, cultural enthusiasts and Patrons of the space.
CAMRAAS’s ambition in the UAE is to create a meaningful platform for it’s artists while contributing to the country’s rapidly evolving cultural landscape.
The UAE has become a meeting point for artists, collectors and creative communities from around the world.
CAMRAAS seeks to participate in that conversation by presenting art in an accessible yet carefully curated environment, encouraging dialogue between artists and audiences and creating opportunities for both established and emerging voices.
The centre’s programme extends beyond exhibitions.
The “ART SALON” by CAMRAAS:Art Experiential center
CAMRAAS Art Experiential Centre hosted an intimate evening of Art, Drinks, Curated Bites and a conversation with Suhel Seth on 17th August 2026. The event was attended by Dr. Elena Vatutina, CEO- YallaRx, Mohammed Shahba, CEO- True check real estate LLc, Miss Fauzia Kher- Lawyer / Partner MAS LAW, Deepti Sadhwani (Actress & Podcaster), Amey Tingare, Brand Director Maserati (India, Middle East, Africa, Turkey, Italy), and many more.
The guests were then taken through a guided Art Tour, conducted by the Curatorial Director of CAMRAAS, Ayesha Seth. The tour consisted of the different rooms that belong to one of the 8 artists, whose practices reflect the diversity of contemporary art and the different ways in which artists respond to their surroundings, histories and lived experiences.
The tour begins with a corner room on the ground floor, called The Devotional Room, is dedicated to The Pichwal Master- Dr. Shalini Yadav. Using natural colors and gold leaf on cloth, Dr Yadav has created her own distinct style to Pichwai art. She paints in a state of deep spiritual immersion, devotion as if momentarily possessed by the very gods and goddesses she depicts. Each work is the result of years of dedication, often taking two, three years or longer to complete.
Behind every brushstroke lies extensive research into the stories, symbols, and heritage that shape her subject of depiction. The result is art that transcends devotion and discipline, breathing new life into a centuries old tradition and Indian colours.
As the curatorial director takes us up the stairs we see paintings in Oil & Acrylic on Canvas by painter Renuka Sondhi Gulati. She works across many diverse mediums from painting to bronze and fiber glass sculpture. Her practice is deeply rooted in her dialogue with nature, its beauty, fragility, and the ever-shifting balance between human intervention and natural resilience.
Her canvases reflect a profound sensitivity to the environmental crisis and species teetering on the brink of disappearance. Yet within this ecological concern, there is always a distinctly human presence, the recurring figure of the woman. Through her female subjects, Gulati explores the interconnectedness between woman and nature both life-giving, nurturing, and yet often overlooked or exploited.
Her work becomes a quiet meditation on the cycles of creation and erosion, fertility and fragility. For her nature is not a mere backdrop but an active participant, a mirror of emotion, and a witness to humanity's choices. By merging environmental reflection with the feminine gaze, Gulati's art urges viewers to reconsider our place within the natural order and the enduring strength of the women who inhabit it.
As you walk through the passages leading to the rooms we are introduced to the works of The Visual Artist- Raihan. R. Vadra. Born into one of India's most politically engaged families Rehan.R.Vadra brings a unique lens to his artistic practice, one that is both introspective and observational.
His upbringing, surrounded by the charged atmosphere of political rallies and public life, has subtly influenced the themes that run through his work. From the tricolour flag glimpsed amid a sea of people to the quiet dignity of a wild animal captured at close range, Vadra's imagery balances the personal with the national, the human with the natural.
His encounters with wildlife during extensive travels have honed his instinct for composition and intimacy each frame a study in proximity and presence. Yet it is his choice of medium that truly sets his work apart. By transforming photographs into illuminated light boxes, Vadra moves beyond traditional photography, inviting viewers to engage with image and light as a sculptural experience. The result is a body of work that feels both documentary and dreamlike, an exploration of identity, observation, and the many worlds an image can inhabit.
As you walk into the first bedroom coined as The Indian Picasso Room, you walk into the riot of colour that is Acrylic Painter- Narendra Pal Singh.
Much like Picasso, if a life model was standing in front of him the rendering would be a perfection of the human form, and much like Picasso years of unlearning this mastery has led to the creation of pal’s own forms, themes and colour that is unmistakably India and his own style.
Next, the tour goes to the middle room house on the top floor that is called “Under The Russian Sky” with the works of The Russian Oil Painter- Olga Levchenko with the medium oil on canvas.
Olga is the kind of artist who paints the world as it unfolds before her. Being a Plein air painter, she immerses herself in each scene with such vigor and urgency that she cannot step away until the work is complete.
Her current collection at CAMRAAS, Under the Russian Sky reflects her deep love for nature and the city where she grew up. Through her plein-air oils, she invites us to breathe her air, feel her light, and be transported into the landscapes that shaped her.
Next stop is the largest bedroom of the house The Cuban Room hosting The Cuban Painter- Michel Martinez Chailloux with the medium Acrylic On Canvas.
The first thing that hits you when you walk into his room is the sheer scale of the work. This current portfolio of works by Michel when acquired, was at the beginning his artistic journey in Cuba.
Today, his career has flourished to the point where commissioning a new piece is a rare privilege. His palette and themes remain deeply rooted in his Cuban heritage,vibrant, rhythmic, and full of life. His work stands as a bold, representative view of society and nature in contemporary Cuba, capturing both its vitality and its complexity. Each piece reflects not only the spirit of his homeland but also the passion and authenticity of an artist shaped by the soul of Cuba.
The last and quite a tucked away corner room is the studio of– The Collage Artist Ayesha Seth.
Ayesha's world is all about collecting, cutting,and creating. Over the years, she's developed her own unmistakable style working with holographic paper and high-precision cutting to build collages that shimmer with detail and intent and meaning.
Whilst a lot of her work is autobiographical, the collection at CAMRAAS is specific to her “cigar art” that was created to celebrate 25 years of Habanos in India, brought by their exclusive distributor, Cingari.
Using actual cigar bands, these pieces are works of art that blend craftsmanship with storytelling. You'll also find her signature Holy Fish where she reimagines India's beloved calendar art through a modern lens. These works capture her playful yet thoughtful way of mixing tradition, symbolism, and contemporary style, a true reflection of her artistic world.
At the end of the art walk, everyone makes their way down the stairs to walk into the drawing rooms that house the solo vernissage of artist Udai Sen- Master Of Line.
The Heir to a Living Legacy Raised in the company of masters, Udai grew up with the works of M.F. Husain and Tyeb Mehta being created in his home. Art was not something he discovered from a distance; it was part of the fabric of his childhood, an extraordinary education shaped by proximity to two of India’s most influential modernists.
Yet it was only later, when caring for his ailing parents that required him to be at home that Udai truly turned inward and discovered his own calling as an artist. From that moment, painting became an instinctive and almost relentless pursuit.
Udai is a prolific artist, constantly painting, exploring and evolving. His extraordinary body of work reflects both the influence of the masters who surrounded his formative years and, but more importantly, how he has carved out a visual language that is entirely his own. His practice is driven by an innate need to create,to observe, translate and continually push the boundaries of his own expression.
Today, Udai’s work stands as a fascinating bridge between the legacy of Indian modernism and a distinctly personal contemporary voice.
Together, these eight artists who currently form the CAMRAAS family’, form a deliberately varied portfolio. This allows CAMRAAS to move between different mediums, disciplines and artistic languages while maintaining a strong curatorial point of view.
The next stage of the evening was the art salon conversation led by Mr. Suhel Seth, Besides being one of India’s foremost branding experts, author, columnist and strategic communications advisor, Mr Seth is a great conversationalist and he had everyone’s rapt attention engaging in topics like: The role of art & culture in shaping society along with the extreme importance and significance of art and artists and their contribution towards all aspects of life.
From Exhibitions to Art Salons
Since opening its doors, CAMRAAS has developed a programme that goes beyond the traditional exhibition format.
From the last carefully curated solo vernissage of Artist Udai Sen, held in November 2025, inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, to The CAMRAAS Salon,’s smaller gatherings designed to bring people together around an artist, an idea or a particular area of artistic practice, these encounters are intended to make conversations around art more accessible and personal, allowing guests to engage directly with the stories and ideas behind the work.
As CAMRAAS grows, these experiences remain central to its identity.
Art is not simply displayed, but discussed, experienced and shared.
Looking
For CAMRAAS, the journey is ultimately about creating a space where art can be encountered without barriers, where a collector can discover a new artist, where an artist can find a new audience, and where a conversation over a work of art can become the beginning of something much larger.
As CAMRAAS enters its next phase in the UAE, its vision remains rooted in the simple idea behind its name:
KAMRA /ROOM
A room to look.
A room to think.
A room to meet.
A room to experience art.
CAMRAAS Art Experiential Centre is building those rooms, one artist, one exhibition and one conversation at a time.
