After Dressing Generations, Harpreet Narula Turns His Focus to Contemporary Artist

When it comes to opulent Indian couture rooted in heritage, craftsmanship and regal aesthetics, few names are as instantly recognisable as Rimple and Harpreet Narula. For decades, the designer duo has built a reputation for creating intricately handcrafted ensembles that celebrate India's rich textile traditions, dressing everyone from brides to Bollywood royalty. This year, however, Harpreet Narula is stepping into an entirely different creative space—one that exchanges fabric for canvas.

Making his solo debut as a contemporary artist, Harpreet Narula is presenting Inward, an exhibition curated by Vikram Singh and opening at Art Explore, New Delhi, on August 3, 2026. While the move may seem like an unexpected departure from couture, Narula insists that painting has always existed alongside his work in fashion.

Although many may see this as a shift from couture to art, Narula believes the two have always gone hand in hand. Looking back, he says every stage of his career has led him to this moment. "Painting has always been part of my life. Over the years, it quietly became the place where I felt most at home," says Narula. "I never thought of this as moving from one profession to another. Design and painting have always existed together. Today, painting occupies most of my time because it gives me a sense of happiness and peace. After years of working in the studio, I felt this body of work was ready to be shared."

Artist Harpreet Narula

"I think I was always meant to be an artist. Painting gives me happiness and peace of mind. Looking back, I can see how everything I have done prepared me for this. Design taught me patience, discipline and an understanding of pattern. Painting brought all of thosenexperiences together in a much more personal way." - Harpreet Narula

The exhibition marks less of a career pivot and more of a natural evolution. Bringing decades of experience in textiles, surface design and craftsmanship, Narula translates the language of fabric into abstract paintings where texture, repetition and rhythm replace silhouettes and embroidery. The relationship between the two disciplines remains unmistakable. Years spent designing textiles taught him to think in terms of structure, layering and pattern, while painting has allowed those ideas to exist free from function.

His years in textile and garment design added another layer to his creative thinking. Working with fabric taught him to appreciate structure, repetition and craftsmanship. Those same qualities now appear throughout his paintings, where thousands of repeated marks slowly build texture and rhythm across the canvas. Unlike fashion, where every piece has a purpose to be worn, painting gives Narula complete creative freedom. His works are abstract but deeply personal, shaped by memory, observation and emotion.

The title Inward reflects this journey of self-discovery. Rather than focusing on the outside world, the exhibition explores personal experiences, memories and the quiet process of looking within. "The title reflects where I am today. Painting is a quiet and deeply personal practice for me. It allows me to slow down, observe and spend time with my thoughts. Inward speaks about that process of looking within and discovering something new every day."

Much of Inward is informed by memory. Growing up in northern India, Narula was surrounded by the painted havelis and kothis of Rajasthan and Punjab. The frescoes, faded colours and weathered walls became part of his visual memory without him even realising it. These visual memories have resurfaced throughout the collection, not as literal representations but as abstract impressions."I grew up surrounded by these walls, buildings and painted surfaces. At that time they were simply part of everyday life. As I grew older, I realised how deeply they had stayed with me. Their colours, textures and weathered beauty became part of my visual memory. I don't paint those walls directly. Their presence naturally appears through colour, texture and repeated marks." At a time when many contemporary artists are exploring India's craft traditions and regional histories, Narula's work offers a personal interpretation of those influences. His paintings are rooted in the visual culture of northern India, but they speak through a contemporary abstract language.

His creative influences extend well beyond textiles. Travel, architecture and cinema have all shaped the visual vocabulary seen throughout Inward. Interestingly, Narula says he remembers textures more vividly than faces. "I travel whenever I can, and I watch a great deal of cinema. Every journey leaves behind something—whether it is a colour, a texture or a feeling. I often struggle to remember people's faces, but I remember textures. I remember the surface of a wall, the grain of wood, old plaster, worn fabric and the way light falls on them. Those impressions stay with me and eventually find their way into my paintings."

For those familiar with the intricate craftsmanship of Rimple and Harpreet's couture, Inward reveals another dimension of Harpreet Narula's creative identity.

Exhibition details:

Dates: 3- 21 August 2026

Timings: Monday - Friday 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM | Saturday 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Venue: Art Explore, E-55, Lower Ground, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi