The Government of Mysore had decided in 1966 that a gallery/museum was needed that could hold the paintings, musical instruments, and plaster of Paris bas reliefs which formed the collection of Karnataka's most famous artist, K. Venkatappa (1886–1965), a pupil of Abanindranath Tagore.

Venkatappa Art Gallery came into being with the foundation stone being laid by the then Chief Minister S.Nijalingappa on 24 November 1967. It took a long time to complete. Artists who were frustrated with the delays went on an innovative protest on the footpath in front of Bible Society demanding the gallery space be finished in 1971.