A Childhood Inspired by Malleswaram 

As a child, she would sit in her grandfather’s house copying the Ravi Varma prints that fascinated her. But her deepest early inspiration came from a much closer place — the Kadu Malleshwara Temple in Malleswaram.

She recalls watching the temple priest create drawings directly with turmeric powder, without any preliminary sketches. The spontaneity and almost magical quality of these drawings left a lasting impression on her young mind.Growing up in Malleswaram, she was surrounded by a culturally rich environment that shaped her understanding of art. The neighbourhood’s temples, traditions and artistic atmosphere became an inseparable part of her creative identity.

From a Summer Hobby to a Life in Art

While pursuing her B.Sc., Kamalakshi attended a summer art camp near her home in Malleswaram in 1966. The camp, organised by Chitrakala Vidyalaya in a small room on the first floor of Gandhi Sahitya Sangha, introduced her to a world that would define her future. That small institution later grew into the renowned Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.

What began as a summer hobby soon turned into a lifelong pursuit. Among the few women students at the institution, Kamalakshi completed her Diploma in Fine Arts and began teaching at the same college in 1971. She later pursued higher studies in mural painting at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and completed her M.A. in History from the University of Mysore,

Learning from Masters

At Chitrakala Parishath, she trained under artists including M. S. Nanjunda Rao, S. S. Kukke and Y. Subrahmanya Raju. Her association with the institution also brought her into contact with artists such as M. F. Husain, K. K. Hebbar, Svetoslav Roerich and Rumale Channabasavaiah.

During her studies in Baroda, artist and teacher K. G. Subramanyan challenged her understanding of what art could be. When she questioned whether an artist needed to work only with traditional forms and techniques, he asked her "Do you think if you put oil on canvas only then you are an artist?". This encouraged Kamalakshi to move beyond boundaries and combine traditional Indian aesthetics with modern artistic expression.

Tradition, Memory and Experimentation

While working with Chitrakala Parishath, she played an important role in collecting and documenting traditional Mysore and Tanjore paintings from across Karnataka. These experiences deeply influenced her own artwork.

Her paintings often combine traditional elements such as the ornamentation and richness of Mysore and Tanjore styles with contemporary forms and abstract expression.

The presence of rathas (temple chariots) and deities frequently appears in her imagery. She believed that her connection with nature, spirituality and traditional art forms naturally found its way into her work. Her later works explored abstraction, colour and texture through paintings such as “Night Train,” “Pushkarani” and “Through the Fire.”

Never limiting herself to one medium, she experimented with oil painting, mural techniques, terracotta, leather puppetry, sand casting, printmaking,and other forms of artistic expression. For Kamalakshi, every medium is connected, and curiosity is essential for an artist.

A Life Dedicated to Chitrakala Parishath

Kamalakshi was associated with Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath from its early days and played a major role in its growth, serving in important positions in the organization. She was also the President of the Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy and served as Chairperson of the Board of Studies and Board of Examiners for Fine Arts at Bangalore University.

Recognitions and Legacy

Kamalakshi also exhibited her works widely and represented India at several international events. Through a British Council Fellowship, she travelled to England to study art traditions. She also represented India at the Roerich centenary celebrations in Russia and led the Indian team at the Ramayana Festival in France. Her contributions have been recognised through several honours, including the Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy Award (1986),Karnataka Rajya Prashasti (2015) and Lifetime Achievement recognition from Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy (1993).

Sources :

https://whatshappbangalore.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/retrospective-exhibition-of-paintings-by-m-j-kamalakshi/ Retrospective Exhibition of Paintings By Prof. M.J.Kamalakshi

‘Malleswarada Rashtra Shilpigalu - Brief life sketches in Kannada of eminent citizens and organisations of Malleswaram Locality ‘ Published by: Malleswaram Residents Welfare Association

https://www.deccanherald.com/content/552162/tracing-artistic-journey.html Deccan Herald