Exclusive! From Canvas To Kanchipuram Silk: Abhay Sehgal’s “Silent Bridge” Explores Identity & Belonging

Contemporary artist Abhay Sehgal recently unveiled Silent Bridge at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco - a deeply personal artwork created on a Kanchipuram silk saree using block-print techniques, silk paints, and acrylics.

A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Sehgal is known for blending surrealism, cultural storytelling, and emotional introspection through his work. Silent Bridge draws from his own journey of moving between India and Chicago, exploring themes of identity, belonging, migration, and cultural duality.

The process itself demanded extensive experimentation, as painting on silk required balancing fluidity with structural detailing. Using specialized silk paints layered with acrylic textures, Sehgal developed a visual language that preserved both the softness of the fabric and the architectural precision of the artwork. More than just a textile piece, Silent Bridge reflects Sehgal's continued interest in creating immersive art that exists between tradition and modernity, fashion and fine art, movement and stillness.

Speaking about the project, Abhay Sehgal says, ""Art, for me, has always been about emotion, introspection, and storytelling. Like every creative individual, growth comes through reflection and evolution. I'm currently focusing deeply on building work that feels more intentional, personal, and process-oriented than ever before," he adds, "This piece reflects the emotional in-between that comes with moving across cultures. I wanted the saree to feel like wearable memory - rooted in tradition, but shaped by personal evolution and global experiences."

The work was showcased at the Asian Art Museum in March 2026 and marks a new creative milestone in Sehgal's evolving artistic journey!