The Ritz-Carlton Bengaluru Opens Its 1,200-Piece Art Collection With a Culinary Art Twist

At a time when cities are rethinking how audiences engage with art, Bengaluru (once the Garden City and now a global technology hub) is experimenting with new formats. Its most recent initiative is an art walk through The Ritz-Carlton Bengaluru’s 1,200-piece collection, paired with an edible art experience that makes art appreciation tactile, social, and disarmingly accessible.

Alongside its technology industry, the city has become home to a growing network of artists, designers, architects, collectors, and creative entrepreneurs who are reshaping how culture is experienced. Unlike cities whose artistic identities are tied to specific movements or institutions, Bengaluru’s cultural ecosystem is defined by collaboration, experimentation, and community-building. That spirit comes through in the launch of the ‘Curator’s Art Walk.’

While the recreation of ‘L’Observation’ by French sculptor Alexandra Gestin on the left is not edible, the paints on the palette and in the bowl beside the scones on the canvases are definitely fair game. (Image Credit: Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore)

A Walkthrough That Turns Viewing Into Participation

The programme opens one of the city’s largest yet least-discussed private collections to the public, combining guided art appreciation with an interactive culinary experience that reimagines the traditional museum visit. “It’s an incredible collection that I don’t think anybody has paid enough attention to. Some of the most interesting artists in modern art are represented here,” says art entrepreneur and Maiden India founder Sureka Sundaram, who curates the experience.

Based in Bengaluru, Sundaram has designed a two-hour guided walk that moves across five floors of the hotel and extends into its outdoor garden. The format is intentionally participatory and available for large groups or private bookings. Guests are encouraged to share observations before being guided through the history, context, and anecdotes behind each work. For instance, the mixed-media 20 x 14 ft diptych by Revati Sharma Singh, titled ‘Boulevard Sunset,’ installed near the banquet halls, was completed on site and serves as an example of how the collection carries traces of its making as well as its display.

Rather than positioning herself as a lecturer, Sundaram structures the walk as a shared inquiry, encouraging visitors to build their own connections with the artworks. Quite often, people don’t know how to enter a work of art, she explains. The idea is to help audiences slow down and experience the space more consciously. With growing interest in Indian contemporary art, the initiative adds a valuable layer to the city’s art landscape, lowering barriers to entry and making art appreciation more accessible.

A peek into the expansive collection of over 1200 works across the property. Top: ‘Untitled,’ mixed media work on canvas by Shola Carletti, left: Butterfly Garden by Agus YK Priyono.and right: ‘Wrapping Candy in Yellow and White’ by Laurence Jenkell. (Image Credits: Ritz-Carlton Bangalore and the artist)

Inside the Ritz-Carlton’s Ongoing Relationship with Art

Far from serving as decoration, the collection was conceived as an integral part of the hotel's design. Many of the artworks were commissioned specifically for the property, creating a natural dialogue between art, architecture, and hospitality. Throughout the hotel, contemporary works help shape the character of individual spaces. On the spa floor, pieces inspired by flora and fauna and rendered in calming tones reinforce an atmosphere of relaxation, while the Lobby Lounge, where the tour begins, features bold, conversation-starting works that immediately draw visitors in.

The collection includes early paintings by Paresh Maity, works by Satish Gupta, metal sculptures by Arzan Khambatta, and paintings by Seema Kohli. The collection also extends beyond India, featuring works such as ‘L’Observation’ by French sculptor Alexandra Gestin, ‘Couple in Love’ and ‘Abrazo’ by Cuban sculptor Manuel Carbonell, as well as pieces by Myanmar-born artist Vinita Karim.

Greeting visitors at the entrance is one of the collection’s most recognisable works, a bronze sculpture of Pablo Picasso by Robert St. Croix, commissioned specifically for the property. (Image Credit: Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore and the artist)

The emphasis on art reflects a broader Ritz-Carlton philosophy. Across its global portfolio, the luxury hotel brand has invested in museum-quality collections, commissioned site-specific works, and collaborated with artists to create experiences rooted in local culture. From bespoke installations in Hong Kong to curated collections in the Maldives and rotating exhibitions in Dubai, many Ritz-Carlton properties function as cultural destinations in their own right. The Hong Kong property, for example, commissioned more than 70 artworks, sculptures, installations, and wall panels specifically for its opening.

In Bengaluru, the collection was assembled by Nitesh Estates, the owner and developer of the hotel, in collaboration with the property’s senior management. When the hotel opened in 2013, its collection of artworks was described as the largest art collection housed within an Indian hotel, and it remains among the country's most significant hotel-based collections today.

At the Lobby Lounge, a sculpture by Satish Gupta is placed in dialogue with a painting by the same artist, together evoking the sensation of moving through dense tree foliage and an abstracted experience of autumn. (Image Credit: Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore and the artist)

Sweet, Savoury & Sculptural: Translating Art into Taste

The experience concludes with an art-inspired high tea that extends the creative journey beyond the gallery spaces. Drawing from the colours, textures, and design language of the hotel, the menu transforms food into an extension of the exhibition. Guests encounter edible chocolate crayons, frosting palettes, and plated compositions designed as much for interaction as for consumption.

Developed in collaboration with multidisciplinary culinary artist Eeshaan Kashyap and Director of Culinary Chef Saurabh Tyagi, the menu is structured around three themes: ‘Sweet, Sculptural, and Savoury,’ mirroring the arc of the art walk itself. Guests are invited to experiment playfully: decorating scones with edible paint, drawing with chocolate crayons on fondant “canvases,” or using palette knives to reveal layers of cake beneath.

An edible experience awaits guests after the immersive art walk, where food becomes the canvas and creativity is meant to be tasted. (Image Credit: Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore)

The ‘Sweet’ selections include a miniature version of the Ritz-Carlton Signature Chocolate Cake, made with Valrhona chocolate, layered with candied orange ganache, and enriched with Grand Marnier. The ‘Savoury’ course includes prawn biscuits, caviar-topped scones, and edamame mini tarts, each designed with a focus on texture and detail. While the ‘Sculptural’ includes a mango salsa on crispy violet-hued wafers.

As someone who spends much of her time immersed in art, whether through exhibitions, conversations, or lectures, I found this art walk to be a refreshing reminder that art need not be confined to galleries and museums. It is meant to be experienced, enjoyed, and shared in everyday spaces. Even within the corridors and lobbies of a luxury hotel, art has the power to transform the way we engage with our surroundings.

The team behind the ‘Curator’s Art Walk’ experience at the Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore.(Image Credit: Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore)

How to book this experience?

The experience runs from 2 pm to 5 pm and must be booked at least 12 hours in advance by calling The Ritz-Carlton team on +91 824 048 4790. The tours are led on a rotating basis by artists Ujjwal Gulati, Ajay Gulati, and Surekha Sundaram, each offering unique perspectives and personal insights into the collection.