Small Business Spotlight: Khazana Gallery
Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 10:31AMArticle by Becky Filllinger, photos provided
A Discussion with Anju Kataria, Owner & Founder
Anju KatariaKhazana means ‘treasure’ in Urdu. There are so many treasures to discover at Khazana Gallery at 2225 Lyndale Avenue S – textiles, sculpture, paintings, jewelry and many items of clothing. We talked to Anju Kataria, Owner and Founder, about her vision for preserving traditional handicrafts, balancing modern handicraft artworks with more traditional styles and how her Gallery is much more than just a shop. You’ll be enchanted when you visit.
Q: What inspired you to start Khazana Gallery?
A: It all started with my mother's textile collection. Growing up, we always had some textile vendor — the shawl guy, the saree guy, the blanket guy — coming to the house, showing my mother and I their exquisite fabrics and art. Her wardrobe became my playhouse... Years later when our family moved to Minneapolis, we opened our businesses. It felt natural to open a space that celebrated my love for the beautiful objects of my childhood and share them with a new audience.
My connection to art and textiles is deeply personal, it was a big part of my childhood and continues through the rest of my life. It was about a love of traditional handicrafts and the people who carried those traditions. Over the years the artisans became my friends and partners.
Q: What makes Khazana Gallery different from other art spaces?
A: One of the defining attributes of Khazana is that it is welcoming and comfortable. Coming to Khazana is a personal experience, often had over tea, allowing guests to connect with the art and the stories behind a work of art. Instead of experiencing the pieces on a white wall in a formal gallery, at Khazana you experience the art as though you are relaxing in a friend’s living room.
Q: How do you curate the pieces you showcase - what’s the process like?
A: I go on buying trips once or twice a year, all over India, and from time to time other places from Morocco to Nepal to Bali. There is always an element of love involved in picking a piece. It could be love for a particular artist (I've cultivated a lot of special relationships over the 35 years of buying for the shop), or it could be the soul within a special piece, the certain je ne sais quoi. A lot of these choices come from a gut feeling or a sense of beauty and specialness that is hard to put into words.
Q: How do you balance contemporary art with traditional textile arts and crafts?
A: At Khazana, we see contemporary art and traditional textile arts as friendly collaborators, not rivals. By drawing on our rich heritage of time-honored techniques - hand-dyed textiles, intricate embroideries, and rare weavings - we honor the history and legacy of master artisans. Simultaneously, we embrace the fresh, bold expressions of contemporary art, creating a dynamic dialogue that resonates with modern sensibilities. This thoughtful "blend" is achieved through direct collaboration with artisans and careful curation of pieces that innovate while staying true to tradition. In our space, every piece becomes a conversation between past and present, inviting visitors to appreciate the enduring beauty of culture reimagined for today. Art cannot and should not be boxed.
Q: What stories or values do you hope visitors take away from their experience at Khazana?
A: I hope that every visitor to Khazana Gallery leaves with a deep sense of connection - both to the stories each piece tells and to the hard work and passion it embodies. When you walk through our space, you're not just seeing art; you're witnessing a legacy of dedication and history expressing itself through beauty.
Q: What are some lesser-known art forms or artists that you’re passionate about bringing into the spotlight?
A: There are too many to name! But one great example would be Madhubani Painting - a woman led artform from India and Nepal that began as a practice of decorating dwellings and village structures that eventually shifted to paintings as objects d'art. I was drawn to the vibrant neon colors and almost cartoon-like figures in the works. It's been an honor to work with the most celebrated artists of the style, such us the award winning Baua Devi. I've had the privilege of watching the artform grow in recognition over the years and I'm glad to have done our part in contributing to that.
Q: How does Khazana support artisans and communities at the source?
A: Simply put, we do this by buying directly from the artists at the source and paying fair prices for the work of artists. Indian handicraft is an endangered tradition, without creating pathways of financial stability it’s just a matter of time before it is lost.
Q: In what ways do you see Khazana as a space for cultural education and dialogue?
A: Khazana is much more than a boutique - it's a dynamic forum for cultural education and dialogue. By sharing stories through art - from immersive exhibitions to intimate discussions - we break down walls, revealing that beneath our diverse exteriors, we are fundamentally the same in our capacity to experience inspiration and awe.
Q: What’s your vision for Khazana in the next 5–10 years? How may we follow your news?
Over the next 5-10 years we're going to keep doing what we've been doing for the last 35 years, making a gathering place for lovers of art and beauty, exchanging stories of our travels and passions over tea and snacks. Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, our website or by coming by to visit us in person.
