There are two major painting traditions represented in the watercolors. Rajput art, featuring bold flat colors, focuses largely on religious themes and often illustrates sacred Jain and Hindu texts. New themes of history painting and portraiture were ushered in by the Mughal dynasty, established in 1526. The art reflects the rich colors and patterning associated with Persian miniature painting.

The exhibition also includes three-dimensional works, many of Indian deities, ranging from a sixteenth-century bronze figure of the prankster Krishna the Butter Thief to the twentieth-century sculpture Dancing Ganesha. Other exciting works portray heroic battles and hunting scenes.

Watch a live video of the Miniature Worlds exhibtion with a discussion and demonstration of traditional Indian dance on youtube.

As a pendant to this exhibition, the museum will display The Inner Eye: Folk Art of India from the William and Ann Oppenhimer Collection, created by two intriquing contemporary artist groups.

This exhibition is drawn from the Leland C. and Paula Wyman Collection at The Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Miniature Worlds: Art from India is a program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of the Mid-America Arts Alliance and The National Endowment for the Arts. Thanks to major support from the Bluegrass Indo-American Civic Society and the Friends of the UK Art Museum for making this exhibition possible. Promotional partners are Community Trust Bank, Insight Communications, Jordan-Chiles, Mason Structure, Messer Construction, and WUKY.