About Founder

Kalaikudam Timings: Weekdays – 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Weekends – 9:00 am to 7:00 pm | Weekly off on Tuesdays

S. Venkatachalapathy (a) Achalam

Mr. S. Venkathachalapathy is the founder, architect and brain behind two unique, first-of-its-kind Institutions. Sri Annai Kamakshi Kalaikudam and Sri Annai Kamakshi Music And Fine arts college is headed by Mr. Venkatachalapathy, who is the Director and also the Head of Department and Professor in Painting.

Achalam has finished Masters in Fine Arts M.F.A (Painting) from the Govt. Collage of Fine Arts Chennai. Achalam has participated in many Individual and group shows. He has worked for many art and craft companies through which he has exported his paintings to many foreign countries.

Academic Profile

1990 -Diploma in Cartooning at Santanu Chithra Vidyalaya, Chennai
1990 – Free Hand Drawing Higher Grade passed (Govt)
1991 – Diploma in Modern Art at Modern Art school, Salem
1999 – B.F.A Bachelor Degree in Painting at Govt College of Fine Arts, Chennai
2003 – M.F.A., Master Degree in Painting at Govt College of Fine Arts, Chennai
2011 – Completed a “Survey of Art Therapy” course in collaboration of the George Washington University, Department of Fine Arts, Stella Maris Collage, Chennai in 2011

Exhibitions

1997 – “Metaphor” group show at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
1998- “Lalit Kala Academy”, Chennai , group show1996-2009– Victoria Technical Institute, Chennai
2001– “Ganga Art Gallery” – group show
2002 – “VEEDU” group show at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
“SHRISTI -2003” at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
GALAXY – 2004” at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
“SURABI – 2005” at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
“CHITHRAMELA – 2006” at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
Solo Painting Exhibition – “CHOLA SHERATON”,-2007, Chennai
Solo Painting Exhibition – “AMBASSADOR PALLAVA”-2008, Chennai
Solo Painting Exhibition 2010 Gallery “SRI PARVATHI” Chennai
CHITHRAMELA – 2008” at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
CHITRAMELA-2009” at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
CHITRAMELA-2010” at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
CHITRAMELA-2011 at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
CHITRAMELA – 2012 at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
Solo Exhibition “Evolution” at Achalam Art Gallery in 2012
Group show CHITRAMELA ALL INDIA ART EXHIBITION 2013 at Achalam art Gallery
Solo Exhibition At Sheraton Chola,Chennai
Solo Exhibition at Renaissance Gallerie, Bangalore in 2012
Solo Exhibition at Art Chamber Goa in 2012
Solo Exhibition at Nehru Centre, Bombay in 2012
Solo Exhibition at Ayya art gallery, Chennai – 2012
Group show at Achalam Art Gallery in 2013
Exhibition at Hotel Hyatt Regency , Chennai – 2013
Group show at Lalit Kala Akademi organized by TN Arts and Crafts Improvement association in August 2013
Solo show at Achalam Art Gallery – Nov 2013
Group show at Tamilnadu Foundation Art Gallery in Jan2014
Group show – “International art exhibition – Chitramela 2015” at Achalam Art Gallery
Group show – “International art exhibition – Chitramela 2016”at Achalam Art Gallery
Group Show – “International art exhibition – Chitramela 2017” at Achalam Art Gallery
Group show – “International art exhibition – Chitramela 2018” at Achalam Art Gallery
Group show – “International art exhibition – Chitramela 2019” at Achalam Art Gallery
Group Show -“International Arts Exhibition – Chitramela 2022” at Achalam Art Gallery

Achalam works

Work Experience

1996

Started Sri Annai Kamakshi kalaikudam

1998 – 1999

Visiting lecturer at Stella Maris College, Chennai | Worked for Sarojini Exports, Metro limited, Kiran industries, Sign and Shine and has worked art related for over 40 companies in Chennai

2004 – 2005

Has Conducted more than 300 workshops in Chennai. Had been Editor, Sri Hamsavahini Kalai Kadambam in the year 2004 – 2005. (Book Related To 64 Types of Art Forms.)

2005

Editor for art books, Primary level for vision book Mahal publishers (2005)

2012

Started Achalam Art Gallery

2015

Head of The Department, Painting (Sri Annai Kamakshi Music and Fine Arts Collage)

2022

Principal (Sri Annai Kamakshi Music and Fine Arts College) | Syndicate member for The Tamil Nadu Dr.J.Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University from 2022

At Present

Running an Art School named Sri Annai Kamakshi Kalaikudam at K.K.Nagar, Chennai, for the past 25 years
Running an Art Gallery named Achalam Art Gallery,in K.K.Nagar, Chennai from January 2012
Running a Fine Arts College Sri Annai Kamakshi Music and Fine Arts College at K.K.Nagar, Chennai from 2014-2015
Conducting online classes for art enthusiasts from more than 15 countries
Organizing Annual International Art Exhibition named ‘CHITRAMELA’ for the past 25 years

Painting Collections

Hotel World Madura park Inn.-Tutucorin
Hotel World Madura Park Inn. Madurai
Hotel Savera, Hotel Chola, Hotel sudha and Hotel Shaan, Chennai
Hotel Amarawathy and Kabul Bangalore
Works exported to U.S.A., Singapore and Canada
Vaigunda perumal Temple, Mangadu
Vellishwarar Temple, Mangadu
Iyyapan Temple, K.K.Nagar
Swarna Kamakshi Amman Temple, Mangalapuri (Near Sriperumbudur)
Kaali Amman Temple, I I T Madras
Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram
Exported to foreign countries such as Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and Dubai

Media

Art Programmes in Sun T.V. Vijay T.V. Jaya T.V. Tamizhan T.V. Makkal T.V. NDTV and Aajtak
The Articles and events taken place so far as Sri Annai Kamakshi Kalaikudam has been published in The Hindu, Indian Express, Times of India, Enadu, Dhina Thanthi, Malai Malar, Dina Malar, Trinity Mirror, News Today, Dina Mani, Theekadir, Maalai Chudar, Nungai Times, Viduthalai, Dina Bhoomi, Dina Mathi, Maalai Pennulagam, Vision and views and in all Local area news papers
Conducted a weekly once programme named “Neengalum Varaiyalaam” continuously for six months in JayaPlus TV-2010