UNTOLD JOURNEY : Building Art Organization as A Teenager Artist

Author: Puja Sarkar, 23rd March, 2026 | Founder | SMS | Artistic & Socio-Cultural Organization |

I am Puja Sarkar—an Indian multidisciplinary contemporary artist, curator, and cultural practitioner based in Kolkata, India. My artistic practice is deeply autobiographical and socially engaged, and it naturally extends into my role as the founder of SMS — an artistic and socio-cultural organization, established in 2009.

The foundation of SMS was not born out of privilege—it was born out of struggle. As a young artist and student pursuing my master’s degree, I stood at a crossroads, uncertain of my future. I was filled with dreams, yet surrounded by rejection, invisibility, and constant doubt. I had no resources, no institutional backing, and no access to established art networks. Like many emerging artists, I realized early that talent alone was not enough to sustain a career in the art world. This realization was not just personal—it reflected a larger truth. I saw many talented young artists around me slowly give up on their dreams, not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked opportunity, guidance, and visibility.

Instead of accepting this reality, I chose to respond to it. As a teenager navigating my own struggles, I began to envision a platform—one that I never had but deeply needed. A space where artists could be seen, supported, and encouraged. A space that connects creativity with community consciousness. These personal experiences and the understanding became the foundation that inspired me to build a platform — SMS — that connects creativity with community consciousness and could offer opportunities, visibility, and encouragement to other emerging and young artists. That vision became SMS.

In my early years, the journey was far from easy. I was young, and my ideas were often dismissed as unrealistic. I faced criticism, discouragement, and even humiliation. Many questioned my capability, while others simply did not take my vision seriously. Many people laughed on me to break my will power; however, they failed after thousand attempts. I kept my vision very strong with selfless dedication. I understood as a student my vision was out of box so not believable and acceptable or understood to others/ society. In this journey, I faced numerous humiliations; At times, it felt like the world was trying to break my will. But something within me refused to give up. I held on to my belief with quiet determination. Every rejection, every negative comment, every obstacle became a source of strength. I transformed doubt or negative comments into motivation and resistance into resilience. A few senior artists believed in me during those early days—their encouragement became a crucial force that helped me continue when everything else seemed uncertain. 

I founded SMS with a clear and unwavering intention: to create a platform where artists—emerging and established—could share ideas, experiment freely, and grow together. Over time, SMS evolved beyond an artist collective. It became a space for inclusion, mentorship, collaboration, and social responsibility. It grew into a living ecosystem where art is not only created, but also shared, discussed, and connected to real life. In the Indian context, art exists at the intersection of culture, economy, and social reality. Yet many artists—especially those outside major cities—struggle to access visibility and recognition. Organizations like SMS play a vital role in bridging this gap by offering alternative platforms, peer support, and a sense of belonging that goes beyond competition.

Over the past 18 years, SMS has curated numerous national and international exhibitions, collaborative workshops, and interactive sessions that bring together artists, curators, educators, and social thinkers. We have built meaningful collaborations with galleries, institutions, and organizations, creating opportunities for artistic exchange and dialogue.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, this collective spirit became even more important. In 2020–2021, SMS organized the all-India fundraising exhibition “EMPATHY”, raising essential funds through art. These funds were later distributed to artists through structured initiatives such as SMS scholarships and SMS grant programs—ensuring dignity, support, and continuity during a time of crisis.

Our work extends beyond the art world. Through our sister organization, Bhalobasa Welfare Society, we engage in social initiatives that support underprivileged children, elderly individuals, and marginalized communities. By integrating art into social development, we aim to create spaces of healing, empowerment, and human connection. This dual vision—artistic growth and social responsibility—defines the true identity of SMS.

Through this journey, I have learned that when artists come together with empathy and intention, they do more than create—they build ecosystems of care, courage, and change. Collectives matter because they keep art rooted in its most essential truth: community.

For me, SMS is deeply personal. It is my response to the isolation I once felt. It is the platform I once searched for. What began as a personal struggle for survival has evolved into a collective vision—to support, mentor, and uplift artists who continue to face challenges within a competitive and often inaccessible art ecosystem.

I share this untold story not as a conclusion, but as an invitation. To every young artist who feels unseen, unheard, or uncertain—you do not have to wait for validation. You can create your own path. You can build your own platform. Because art is not meant to exist in isolation, It is a dialogue, a bridge between inner truth and shared experience—a force that connects life, emotion, and humanity.

I shared my untold story of the making an art organization as a teenager against all odds to inspire other artists in India. I believe, art is not about practicing art lonely or creating in isolation, as an artist I feel artist has social responsibility to share exchange and celebrate the dialogue and vision of internal truth through art to others as like healing, untold story that will be the bridge between art and life with special phenomena.    Through SMS, I aim to inspire other artists by sharing this untold story — the story of building an art collective as a teenager. Art connects life, emotion, and healing — it builds a bridge between art and humanity, between expression and existence.

SMS was born from struggle, but it lives to nurture hope. It stands for every artist who dares to dream without a safety net—proving that when creativity and compassion come together, art becomes not just a practice, but a powerful movement of connection, purpose, and change.