Our founding story
"It started with color & became a cause."
The story of the Ayush Art Foundation begins not in a conference room or committee, but in the heart of a young child from Odisha—Ayush Mohapatra—who picked up his first paintbrush at just three years old.
As Ayush grew, so did his talent—and so did his vision. While many applauded his reverse speed art and live performances, Ayush’s most meaningful moments came not on grand stages, but inside the quiet walls of orphanages and tribal villages, where children had never touched a brush or seen their stories reflected in art.
It was during one of his earliest visits to Utkal Balashram, a child care home in Puri, that Ayush saw firsthand how a simple art session could light up the faces of children who had suffered pain, loss, or neglect. What began as a weekend hobby turned into a heartfelt commitment—free art classes, every Sunday, every week, with love, laughter, and color.
Proud Finalist's of National Art Exhibition 2024
During the COVID-19 lockdown, while most of the world paused, Ayush’s mission intensified. He taught, painted, and connected more than ever—using his skills to spread hope. His performances began receiving national recognition, but his heart remained with the children whose lives could be changed by a brush, a story, or a smile.
In 2024, Ayush officially founded the Ayush Art Foundation—a nonprofit rooted in three principles:
Creativity, Compassion, and Community.
Since then, the Foundation has grown into a youth-led movement that brings free art education, environmental campaigns, cultural preservation, and digital tools to thousands of children across Odisha and beyond.
But the mission is just beginning.
