New Delhi

Renowned artist and Kochi-Muziris Biennale co-founder Bose Krishnamachari has stepped down from the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF), citing urgent family commitments, the foundation confirmed on Wednesday.

Before his resignation, Krishnamachari held the position of President of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and was also a member of the KBF Board of Trustees. Announcing the development, KBF chairperson Dr Venu V said Krishnamachari had conveyed his decision due to pressing personal reasons.

The foundation has begun the process of selecting a distinguished figure from the art world with strong credentials to take over as President of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Dr Venu added.

Krishnamachari was unavailable for comment.

The artist was in New Delhi earlier this week to attend the 20th Collage International Art Carnival organised by the Delhi College of Art at the Lalit Kala Akademi, where he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. While acknowledging the recognition on social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, Krishnamachari did not reference his resignation in those posts.

In his message, he expressed gratitude to the Delhi College of Art and the wider artistic community for celebrating the contributions of artists and institutions that shape cultural narratives, noting that past recipients of the award included eminent figures such as M.F. Husain and Krishen Khanna.

At 63, Krishnamachari is widely regarded as a central force behind the conception and growth of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. The foundation noted that his role has been instrumental in shaping the Biennale into one of Asia’s most significant contemporary art platforms.

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The ongoing sixth edition of the Biennale, curated by artist Nikhil Chopra and HH Art Spaces, recorded approximately 1.6 lakh visitors between December 12 and December 31. While the inaugural edition in 2012 featured 89 artists from 23 countries across 13 restored heritage locations, the current edition spans 22 venues across Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Wellingdon Island and Ernakulam, showcasing 66 artists and collectives from over 25 countries.