Bengaluru: At an age when most people are urged to slow down, Prabha Mallesh is still leaning into her easel, brush steady, purpose clearer than ever. At 81, the Bengaluru-based Mysore-style painter continues to work with the same quiet resolve that has guided her for more than five decades. With more than 600 paintings to her credit, she remains driven by a simple belief — that art should find a place in as many homes as possible.Her family has chosen to document her artistic journey for over five decades in a collection titled “Rooted in Gold – The times art of Mysore painting”, which will be unveiled in the city Sunday. Prabha’s journey into art did not begin in classrooms or studios. It began in a village in Chikkamagaluru, in the everyday intimacy of lived experience. “I watched my mother sketch casually, absorbed mythological stories narrated by my father, and wandered through my grandfather Bagmane Chinna Gowda’s home in Chikkamagaluru district’s Kalasa, where art was not displayed for prestige, but for love. Among the works he collected were prints by Raja Ravi Varma, images that quietly etched themselves into a my mind as a young girl,” she recalled.However, her formal engagement with art began only after marriage, when she moved to Bengaluru and joined Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (CKP). Rooted in tradition, Mysore-style painting is known for its delicate lines, intricate brushwork, gold leaf detailing, and vibrant vegetable colours depicting gods and mythological narratives. Prabha embraced the form but gradually redefined it. Her work became known for its subdued palette, expressive faces, and the introduction of a rare 3D depth. Mentored by Nanjunda Rao, a founding member and former secretary of CKP, and Subramanya Raju, a renowned artist associated with Mysore Palace, Prabha began developing her own visual language. “My use of colour evolved as I was drawn to a muted, understated palette – gentler, more reflective. The faces in my painting gradually became a defining element with emotion and presence. I slowly moved away from simply recreating existing works and began developing my own compositions. Inspiration came from many places – a temple sculpture, an old photograph or even a fleeting memory,” she said. She has painted the entirety of Ramayana. As her work found admirers beyond India, including in the UK and the US, her themes expanded. She created the celebrated palace series, portraying kings, queens, courtesans, and dancers, and went on to paint vases, horses, and Nandi, retaining the Mysore form while widening its appeal.Her contribution to Indian art earned her widespread recognition, including the Mysore Dasara Award, Karnataka State Award, CKP All India Exhibition Award, the National Award, and the Shilpa Guru Award, presented by the President of India in 1999 and 2013. Two of her paintings were also selected by the govt of Karnataka for official Indian postcards, an enduring testament to an artist who continues to create, even as an octogenarian.
