Atelier Trilok Soni · Bhilwara, Rajasthan
Recognition.
A record of awards, exhibitions, installations, and press.
New York
Government of India
and demonstrations
India, UK, Australia, USA
May 2026 · New York
Met Gala 2026.
Isha Ambani. Gaurav Gupta. The world's most photographed red carpet.
"National Award-winning Pichwai art master Trilok Soni and his team were flown to Gupta's atelier, where they spent more than 150 hours hand-painting the sari."WWD (Women's Wear Daily), 4 May 2026
"Six artisans, led by Pichwai artist Trilok Soni, spent 150 hours hand-painting the border alone."The Nod Mag, 4 May 2026
Gaurav Gupta brought Trilok Prakash Soni to his Delhi atelier, where he and a team of six artisans spent 150 hours painting Pichwai motifs on the sari border. The painting that Isha Ambani wore to the 2026 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
The motifs are drawn from three traditions: Pichwai, Ajanta cave murals, and classical Indian art. Gupta's embroiderers then layered zardozi, aari, and dabka work on top in gold thread, metal coil, sequins, and crystals. The sari was woven with real gold threads by Swadesh artisans. More than 50 artisans contributed. 1,200 hours in total.
Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania. Met Gala 2026 theme: Costume Art. Isha Ambani's first sari on the Met Gala red carpet.
July 2024 · Mumbai
Anant Ambani Wedding. Manish Malhotra.
Trilok Prakash Soni was one of three Pichwai artists who hand-painted the bespoke jacket worn by Anant Ambani at his wedding, Mumbai, July 2024. The jacket was designed by Manish Malhotra.
600 hours of hand-painting. 100 gold leaves. Pichwai motifs from the Nathdwara tradition: lotuses, cows, peacocks, Krishna's leelas.
Manish Malhotra jacket, Anant Ambani wedding, Mumbai, July 2024. Pichwai paintings by Bhilwara artisans. 110 hours. 100 gold leaves.
December 2025 · Goa
Serendipity Arts Festival. 3D Pichwai Installation.
Trilok Prakash Soni created a large-scale 3D Pichwai installation for Stepwells: Poetry in Craft at the Serendipity Arts Festival, Panjim, Goa, 2025. Curated by Anjana Somany.
The challenge: to translate the traditionally two-dimensional Pichwai form into three dimensions, mapping the architecture of a stepwell. Featured in Garland Magazine, December 2025.
3D Pichwai installation, Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa, 2025
Government of India · 2011
National Award.
Ministry of Textiles. Presented by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee.
The National Award (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, was awarded to Trilok Prakash Soni in 2011 for craftsmanship and contribution to the development of Pichwai painting.
The award was presented by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, then President of India, at the National Award ceremony, New Delhi.
2023 · Mumbai
Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.
Trilok Prakash Soni conducted a Pichwai painting demonstration workshop at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), Mumbai, 2023, hosted by Smt. Nita Mukesh Ambani.
In attendance: Shri Mukesh Ambani, Smt. Nita Ambani, Shri Anant Ambani, Shri Ajay Piramal, and Shri Anil Agarwal.
Permanent installations
Works installed.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
CSMVS · Mumbai
Mumbai International Airport, Terminal 2
T2 · Among the most-visited public art venues in India
Adani House, Ahmedabad
Residence of Shri Gautam Adani and Smt. Priti Adani
Solo exhibitions and demonstrations
Exhibitions.
| Year | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), Mumbai | Pichwai demonstration workshop. Attended by Shri Mukesh Ambani, Smt. Nita Ambani, Shri Anant Ambani, Shri Ajay Piramal, and Shri Anil Agarwal. |
| 2022 | Amdavad ni Gufa, Ahmedabad | Solo exhibition. Inaugurated by Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir V. Shah. |
| 2019 | Rajadhiraj: The Untold Story of Dwarka and Lord Dwarkadheesh, Ahmedabad | First dedicated exhibition of Dwarkadheesh Pichwai paintings. 35 paintings. Inaugurated by Shri Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister of Gujarat; Deputy CM Shri Nitin Patel; Shri Anant Ambani; and Vaishnavacharya HH Dwarkeshlalji Maharaj. Initiative by Shri Dhanraj Nathwani. Accompanied by a coffee-table book (texts in Sanskrit, Gujarati, Hindi, and English, narrated by Kajal Oza Vaidya) and a music album of bhajans. |
| 2017 | Amdavad ni Gufa, Ahmedabad | Solo exhibition of 24 Pichwai paintings. Inaugurated by Shri Pradyuman Vyas, then Director of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and Shri Anil Relia. |
| 2016 | Spring Fair, Birmingham, United Kingdom | Workshop and demonstration on Pichwai painting. |
| 2014 | India House Art Gallery, Pune | Solo exhibition. |
| 2014 | Amdavad ni Gufa, Ahmedabad | Solo exhibition. |
| 2013 | Amdavad ni Gufa, Ahmedabad | Solo exhibition. Inaugurated by Shri Rajiv Sethi and Smt. Priti Adani. |
| — | National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Melbourne, Australia | Workshop and demonstration on Pichwai painting. |
| — | Crafts Museum, New Delhi | Workshop and demonstration on Pichwai painting. |
| — | Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi | Solo exhibition. |
Press coverage
In print.
| Year | Publication | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | WWD (Women's Wear Daily) | Feature and photo caption on Isha Ambani's Gaurav Gupta sari at the Met Gala. "National Award-winning Pichwai art master Trilok Soni." |
| 2026 | The Nod Mag | Feature on the Met Gala 2026 sari. "Six artisans, led by Pichwai artist Trilok Soni, spent 150 hours hand-painting the border alone." |
| 2025 | Garland Magazine | Feature on Stepwells: Poetry in Craft, Serendipity Arts Festival. "This recognised Pichwai artisan created a large 3D installation mapping a stepwell." |
| 2019 | Ahmedabad Mirror (Unwind) | It's a first for Pichhwai. Dwarkadheesh exhibition focus. |
| 2019 | Ahmedabad Mirror (Hip 'N' Hap) | For all Krishna devotees. |
| 2014 | Sakal Times, Pune | Pichwai art, back to the fore. Feature interview. |
| 2014 | Ahmedabad Mirror | Stories of the Lord. |
| 2014 | City Bhaskar / Divya Bhaskar | Krishna leela in Pichwai. |
| 2014 | DNA, Ahmedabad | Pichwai exhibition feature. |
| 2013 | Sandesh, Ahmedabad | Exhibition feature on Pichwai. |
Four centuries of tradition. One artist. One studio. Bhilwara.
Press kit available on request.
For journalists, galleries, curators, and serious enquirers. Includes the full artist biography, high-resolution portrait, exhibition and press archive, scans of the National Award certificate, and selected high-resolution artwork images.
Request press kitOr email: tchitrakar78@gmail.com
Atelier Trilok Soni
Commission a painting.
Each work is hand-painted with natural mineral pigments and 24K gold leaf on hand-prepared cotton cloth. Commissions accepted for Pichwai and Indian miniature paintings. Worldwide delivery.