Patna: City-based artist Binod Kumar Gupta, 59, is all set to exhibit his paintings at a solo exhibition at San Francisco's Fraenkel gallery.

"The Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Ahmedabad is organising the solo exhibition while Faridabad-based start-up Urban Thela is sponsoring the show," Binod said.

He would exhibit 30 of his works at the upcoming exhibition, the theme of which is illusion prints. "Right now I am working on the concept of illusion, which I would be showcasing at the exhibition," he said. "I have mixed the subject of illusion and Buddha together and my paintings have images of Buddha with illusion, creating images of elephant. According to history, Buddha's cousin Devdatta tried to kill him by sending a drugged elephant, but the elephant calmed down on seeing the Buddha. Also, I would showcase Sheshnaag (multi-headed snake) in my paintings, which also has a relation to Buddha's story, apart from creating other such illusionary images."

According to Gupta, the last show, the 9th International Art Festival (organised by Indian Culture Centre, Thailand), which he attended in Thailand in September, got a good response. "The exhibition was help from September 2 to 6. Artistes from Australia, Qatar and Zurich were also there. Two of my paintings, also of the Buddha series, got sold for Rs 3 lakh each."

Gupta is a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from city-based College of Arts & Crafts and has done his Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) from Chandigarh University.

Earlier, he had also participated in the national art exhibition organised by Lalit Kala Akademi in 2014. His solo painting exhibition would be held at San Francisco's Fraenkel gallery in March.