The Unheard Stroke - Painting Competition

All That You Need to Know:

Finesse - The Art Club of IIM Ahmedabad presents The Unheard Strokes, a national-level painting competition organised as part of Palettes, our flagship annual art event held in December.

Art has the power to tell stories that words often cannot. Through this competition, we invite student artists from across India to express their creativity, share their perspectives, and bring their interpretations to life on canvas.

This year's theme, Echoes: The Past, Still Sounding in the Present, celebrates the timeless influence of memories, traditions, heritage, and imagination. We invite artists to look back, reimagine the present, or create worlds that exist beyond reality.

The competition will culminate in an exhibition at IIM Ahmedabad, showcasing selected artworks and the diverse perspectives of emerging artists.

Theme: ECHOES - The Past, Still Sounding in the Present

Some things never truly grow old. They live on in the art we create, the places we visit, the stories we tell, and the memories we carry.

From the charm of the ’80s and ’90s to the beauty of traditional art, from historic architecture to futuristic ideas inspired by the past, Echoes invites you to explore what has stood the test of time and give it a new meaning.

Whether you recreate a bygone era, reinterpret a centuries-old tradition, capture the stories hidden in heritage, or imagine an entirely new world, we want to see your unique interpretation.

Explore Echoes through the nostalgia of the ’80s and ’90s, traditional art forms passed down through generations, the stories and beauty of historic places, or imaginative blends of the past and future. You can also step beyond reality to create dreamlike landscapes and entirely new worlds. Interpret the theme through any medium or perspective that inspires you.

These are only starting points, not rules. Your imagination, your interpretation.

Look back. Reimagine. Create something that echoes.

Participation Guidelines:

• Individual entries only.
• Open to students enrolled in colleges and universities across India.
• All painting mediums are welcome, including acrylic, oil, watercolour, and mixed media.
• The artwork must be an original creation by the participant.

Submission Format and Artwork Requirements:

Round 1: Online Qualification

Participants must upload a two-page PDF on Unstop:

• Page 1: Photograph(s) of the artwork (maximum two photographs).
• Page 2: Artist’s Note explaining the concept, inspiration, and message behind the artwork.

The Artist’s Note must follow the prescribed template: Download Artist Note Template

Template link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Njo4AVHLpaiwpqHYwAZUYffSyzips-0_/view

Artwork Requirements for the Final Exhibition:

• The artwork must be larger in area than an A3 sheet.
• There is no upper size limit, subject to practical display requirements.
• Artworks must be display-ready, either mounted, framed, or otherwise structurally supported.
• Shortlisted participants must arrange delivery of their original artworks to IIM Ahmedabad, either in person or through a securely packed courier.

Stages and Timelines:

Round 1: Artwork Upload and Qualification

• Participants submit their artwork photographs and Artist’s Note through Unstop.
• A preliminary review will be conducted after the submission deadline.
• A maximum of 25 artworks will be shortlisted for the final exhibition.

Round 2: Final Exhibition and Judging

• Shortlisted artworks will be exhibited during Palettes at IIM Ahmedabad.
• Winners will be announced after the exhibition and judging process.

Important Dates:

• Registration and Round 1 submission deadline: 14 November 2026, 11:59 PM IST

• Round 1 shortlist announcement: 18 November 2026

• Deadline to dispatch shortlisted artworks: 22 November 2026

• Deadline for artworks to reach IIM Ahmedabad: 1 December 2026

• Exhibition and final judging: To be announced

Exhibit Your Art. Give It a Purpose.

Art can do more than inspire; it can also make a difference.

Participants will have the option to make their artworks available for sale during the exhibition. Those who choose to sell their work can decide what percentage of the sale proceeds they wish to contribute to a designated cause, subject to a minimum contribution of 50%.

Participants who prefer not to sell their artworks can opt for display only, with no obligation to sell or contribute.

Participation in the sale initiative is entirely voluntary. Whether an artwork is offered for sale or displayed exclusively for appreciation will have no impact on the judging criteria, evaluation, or final results.

Further details regarding the designated cause, sale process, and settlement of proceeds will be shared with shortlisted participants.

Exhibition and Judging:

Shortlisted artworks will be exhibited at IIM Ahmedabad during Palettes. Winners will be announced after the exhibition.

Judging criteria:

• Concept and interpretation of the theme
• Originality and creativity
• Clarity and impact of the message
• Artistic execution and technique

Participation in the optional sale initiative will not influence judging.

Artwork Return:

• All submitted physical artworks will be returned within 3–5 working days after the event.
• Participants sending their artworks by courier must bear the return shipping costs.
• Separate arrangements will be communicated for artworks sold during the exhibition.

Originality and Authenticity:

• Only original artworks created by the participant will be accepted.
• AI-generated artwork, traced work, copied artwork, or work that infringes another artist’s intellectual property will be disqualified.