Art Begins in Moments Like This!
Dr. Smita Bhatia Foundation’s Portrait Artist Challenge 2025 is now open. The last date for submission is July 27th, 2025.
Dr. Smita Bhatia Foundation’s Portrait Artist Challenge 2025 is now open. The submission deadline has been extended to July 31st, 2025.
Submissions Closed – Portrait Artist Challenge 2025
Thank you to every artist who poured their time and creativity into this year’s challenge. We’re truly inspired by the incredible portraits we’ve received. Stay tuned as we move to the next stage of the competition!
Keep scrolling to learn more.
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Meet The Winners Of Round 1
Meet Your Judges
Annu Naik
Annu’s work represents down to earth Indian life. Her subjects are those of the street mendicants, children, artisans and lively Rajasthani women. She has showcased over 100 shows worldwide till date, with some of her paintings being part of corporate and private collections across the globe. Her work has also been sold by Christies and Sotheby’s.
B Santhanam
Artist Santhanam, with over 23 years of experience since 2000, excels in drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media. He emphasizes the importance of art in everyday life and offers both in-person and online learning options. Santhanam also provides e-consulting services to support artists and businesses.
Shaiwal Chakraborty
Shaiwal Chakraborty is an art practitioner from Kalabhavan, Visva Bharati, Shantiniketan, specializing in printmaking. His art practice aims to express different emotions through the use of portraits in their artworks. Shaiwal engages in intermedium exploration, which includes lithography, woodcut printing, screen printing, drawing, and painting.
K. Lavanya
K. Lavanya is an emerging visual artist and student at the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. Working across oil, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, and soft pastels, her practice delves into portraying complex human emotions through expressive portraiture and figurative compositions. A two-time recipient of the Best Student award, she also been recognized with a first prize in the All India Painting Competition by Image Group of India, along with a third-place win in The Kasturi Srinivasan Trust’s student art exhibition.
"An evening to cherish, a painting to treasure, and prayers for Dr. Smita Bhatia and the team."
- Ann Gonsalves Chief Guest, PAC 2024
The Portrait Artist Challenge is being held to raise awareness about the Dr. Smita Bhatia Foundation and its activities.
Through this event, we also aim to promote and foster greater engagement between art, artists, and the community. Join us in this endeavor to make a meaningful impact and create a stronger connection through the power of art.
In frame, Mrs. Ann Gonsalvez (Hon. Secretary and Founding Member Multiple Sclerosis Society of India, Chennai Chapter), PAC 2024’s Chief Guest as depicted by the winners of Round 2!
Ready to Compete? Here’s How.
The competition is split into two rounds and is open to Indian residents of all ages. There is no entry fee to submit your application. Enter the competition by completing the application below (only one application per person).
We encourage last year’s participants to return except the winner and the first runner-up.
Round 1
This round is held completely online! To enter, you must upload a self-portrait created within the last 2 years and an additional artwork of your choice representative of your work along with other details in the application form, by July 18th!
Round 2
In Round 2, the shortlisted finalists will participate in a live face-off, tentatively scheduled to be held in Chennai on August 23, 2025. All selected finalists must be willing to travel to Chennai at their own expense. Participants below the age of 18, if selected, must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Psst! Follow us on instagram to stay tuned, and learn more about your judges!
Submit Your Artwork Now
More about the people of PAC!
I was really happy to be part of the portrait competition organized by Dr. Smita Bhatia Foundation. Winning it was an unforgettable experience for me. There were six of us in total, including myself, and each of us had a unique experience, which made the event feel really special.
While we were painting, some school students came up and spoke with us. That interaction gave us a real insight into how thoughtful and deep their minds are. I was also accompanied by my husband, Jegapriyan ., whose support meant a lot to me throughout the event. It was a meaningful experience for me and gave me a big boost in my journey as an artist.
- Lavanya K, Winner, PAC 2024
"We really enjoyed the program and everything was fantastic. Thank you so much for arranging such a good program and contest for such a good cause. It was really a great experience for me. Thank you so much again and praying better health for Dr Smita."
- Prantika Saha, 1st Runner Up, PAC 2024
"Thank you so much, I am grateful to have been a part of the event and hope to meet everyone again soon!"
- Kshitij Budhiraja, 2nd Runner Up, PAC 2024
"From the rustic charm of West Bengal to the vibrant energy of Chennai, this journey was a transformative experience. The organizers' exceptional hospitality made it truly unforgettable, gifting me a lifetime of cherished memories."
- Sayan Bhattacharyya, 2nd Runner Up, PAC 2024
"Thank you so much for everything. We are on our way home. It was a wonderful experience. I truly appreciate the effort you put into taking care of everything. The hospitality was excellent, and I feel privileged to have been part of the program."
- Sayan Basu, Finalist, PAC 2024
"Thank you so much for the photos. I am grateful to have been a part of this wonderful event. The hospitality was amazing. The people, the place, and the South Indian culture truly touched my heart. Hats off to you, Smita ma'am, and the foundation for organizing such a fantastic event."
- Sayak Pal, Finalist, PAC 2024
“It was really special for me to present my art on such an amazing platform, I got a chance to meet so many great artists and beautiful people, glad to get such interaction from the audience, grateful to be associated with such a great cause, truly a memory to cherished for lifetime.”
- Shaiwal Chakraborty, Winner, PAC 2023
"As a fan of Portrait Artist of the Year (UK), I've always desired to witness or take part in a similar event within the Indian art community. PAC, hosted by the Smita Bhatia Foundation, is a significant step towards that aspiration. It was a pleasure to be part of the inaugural edition of such a well-executed art event. Witnessing students with artistic ambitions engaging with the artists and getting their autographs will stay vivid in my memory for a long time. Exploring the profound mission of the Smita Bhatia Foundation and Proton therapy amidst the creative buzz added depth to my experience. Thanks to Mr. Mukundan for his gracious hospitality, and I eagerly anticipate contributing to and engaging with future editions of this event."
- Pon Balaji, 1st Runner Up, PAC 2023
Select works from previous years
Portrait Artist Challenge 2024 and 2023 were received with warmth and brilliance that was exhibited by our contenders, we loved each and everyone’s art!
Select works from this year's online submission.
Round 1 of the Portrait Artist Challenge 2025 was received with warmth and brilliance exhibited by the participants, we loved each and everyone’s art!
