Witness a poetic dialogue between humanity and nature come alive at this exhibition in New Delhi

Artist Yashika Sugandh presents 'Vartaman,' a solo exhibition exploring the relationship between humanity and nature, at the Living Traditions Centre, Bikaner House, New Delhi, from September 27 to October 1, 2025. The show features intricate paintings and mixed-media works that blend whimsical hybrid creatures—such as snails carrying giraffes and turtles becoming tomatoes—with motifs like tree branches, reflecting Sugandh's reverence for the natural world. After its run at Bikaner House, the exhibition will continue at Black Cube Gallery, New Delhi, until October 31.

vrindavani vastra tapestry india loan british museum

The British Museum has agreed to a six-month loan of the Vrindavani Vastra, a 350-year-old Himalayan tapestry, to the Assam State Museum in India. This 2027 homecoming is contingent on the construction of a specialized preservation facility in Guwahati to house the fragile nine-meter silk textile, which depicts the life of Krishna and features the earliest known Assamese script.

british museum loans csmvs india

The British Museum has sent approximately 80 artifacts on long-term loan to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai, India. The loan includes an ancient Egyptian wooden riverboat model, Sumerian statues from 2200 BCE, a Roman mosaic from London, and a marble bust of Emperor Augustus. It is the largest loan of ancient material to India and the first such deal between the British Museum and a non-Western museum. The exhibition aims to counter "colonial misinterpretation" by emphasizing India's contributions to civilization.

british museum lending program

The British Museum has launched a new long-term lending program, transferring some 80 Greek and Egyptian antiquities to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai, India, for a three-year exhibition. Director Nicholas Cullinan presented the initiative as a collaborative alternative to the contentious debate over repatriation, aiming to share artifacts with former British colonies without permanently deaccessioning them. The loans are part of a 15-year partnership between the two museums, and Cullinan has signaled plans to negotiate similar arrangements with China, Nigeria, and Ghana.

fake paintings india investment banker farmer charge sheet

Indian officials have released a charge sheet in an ongoing investigation into the sale of forged paintings attributed to major modern Indian artists M. F. Husain, S. H. Raza, Manjit Bawa, and F. N. Souza. The alleged scheme involved a poor farmer, Raghavendra Parmar, who posed as a maharaja to sell fake works, aided by lawyer Vishwang Desai, who presented himself as a collector to persuade investment banker Puneet Bhatia to purchase the pieces. The paintings, collectively valued at around ₹17.9 crore ($2 million), were allegedly funneled through Mumbai's Rare Art Gallery, run by Rajesh Rajpal, and the related firm Art India International. A former IAS officer, Subroto Banerjee, is also implicated but denies involvement.

lalitha lajmi

The article excerpts a book about Indian artist Lalitha Lajmi, exploring her creative struggles, loneliness, and distinctive use of blue and red in watercolors. It draws from her dream journals and interviews, describing how she often painted herself in red against blue landscapes, symbolizing desire and isolation, and how her works resemble raw underpaintings that reveal subconscious imagery.

Party Is Elsewhere: When Art, Absence and Space Collide

Sudarshan Shetty’s seminal 2005 kinetic installation, "Party Is Elsewhere," has been restaged within the decaying remains of an abandoned nightclub in Delhi. The exhibition eschews the traditional "white cube" gallery space, instead utilizing a raw environment of peeling plaster and sagging ceilings to mirror the work's original debut in a fire-damaged Mumbai gallery. The installation features a mechanical system that rhythmically hammers a table of wine glasses beneath a neon sign, creating a sensory experience centered on fragility and deferred presence.

‘This is how art history is built’: unprecedented Mumbai exhibition unites works of Indian and Arab Modernism

A new exhibition titled 'Resonant Histories' has opened at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) museum, running until 16 February 2026. It is the first show to focus on the relationship between Indian and Arab Modernism, featuring over 40 works lent by the Sharjah-based Barjeel Art Foundation alongside pieces from Mumbai's Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation (JNAF). The exhibition highlights visual and thematic resonances between artists from both regions, such as Syrian painter Marwan Kassab-Bachi and Indian master Francis Newton Souza, and addresses shared post-colonial struggles through works by artists like Chittaprosad Bhattacharya, Krishen Khanna, Abdul Qader Al Rais, and Naim Ismail. It also explores direct cultural exchanges, for example Egyptian artist Nazek Hamdi's adaptation of Bengali folk-art.

Must-see art exhibitions in Mumbai this June

This article highlights five must-see art exhibitions in Mumbai for June, including Manoj Jain's debut solo show 'It Didn't Ask to Be Art' at Soho House, Juhu, curated by Dheeya Soumaiya; the 'Art Carnival' at The Bombay Art Society, Bandra; 'Kala Connect' at Nehru Centre Art Gallery, Worli; 'Form and Flow' group exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery, Kala Ghoda; and 'Dreamers' by Gurjeet Singh in collaboration with Jaipur Rugs at Chemould Prescott, Fort. These exhibitions span raw art, emerging talent, cultural dialogue, contemporary group shows, and textile-based works exploring identity and queerness.

Gallery hopping: A new way to experience & engage with art

The article reports on the rise of gallery hopping in Delhi, particularly in neighborhoods like Lado Sarai, Defence Colony, and Okhla, where galleries cluster together. The Defence Colony Galleries Association, founded by Pristine Contemporary owners Arjun Butani and Arjun Sawhney, launched the monthly Def Col Art Night, keeping 10 galleries open until 9pm on the third Thursday with openings, music, and performances. Gallery directors and owners note that these events attract a broader audience beyond traditional collectors, making art more accessible and fostering community.

Photomontage of Israel bombing Gaza will go on show at Art Basel Qatar

Pakistani artist Rashid Rana's photomontage 'Black Square (2025)' will be presented at the inaugural Art Basel Qatar fair. The work, composed of hundreds of stills from a Gaza CCTV camera, depicts a night of Israeli bombardment and is priced at $30,000, with all proceeds directed to Gaza relief funds. It is being shown by Mumbai gallery Chemould Prescott Road.

Mumbai Gallery Weekend looks beyond the city's historic art district

The 14th edition of Mumbai Gallery Weekend (MGW) is underway, running until January 12, and for the first time appoints co-leads from galleries outside the city's historic art district of Colaba and Fort. Ayesha Parikh of Art and Charlie (Bandra) and Sanjana Shah of Tao Art Gallery (Worli) helm the event, reflecting the geographic expansion of Mumbai's art scene into western suburbs and financial districts. The weekend features ambitious exhibitions, including a solo show of terracotta works by Chippa Sudhakar at Tao and a group show curated by Zeenat Nagree at Art & Charlie. MGW, co-founded in 2012 by Shireen Gandhy and other South Mumbai galleries, has grown from nine to 33 participating galleries, and now includes the Midtown Arts Collective, which represents galleries from Worli, Lower Parel, and Bandra.

11 Must-See Art & Cultural Exhibitions in India This Season

This article highlights 11 must-see art and cultural exhibitions across India during the autumn season, spanning cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Featured shows include the Bvlgari Serpenti Exhibition at NMACC Mumbai, a retrospective of women artists titled "Woman Song | Looking Back" at Vadehra Art Gallery, experimental works by modernist FN Souza at Emami Art Kolkata, and solo shows by artists such as Pema 'Tintin' Tshering, Madhvi Parekh, and Nikhil Chaganlal. The lineup also includes group shows like "Mishran: A Medley of Mediums" at India Habitat Centre, offering a diverse range of mediums from sculpture to digital art.

Timely rediscoveries await at Independent 20th Century

The fourth edition of Independent 20th Century fair takes place at Casa Cipriani from September 4-7, featuring 31 exhibitors and works by around 40 overlooked 20th-century artists. Highlights include solo presentations of visionaries like Gertrude Greene, Jacci Den Hartog, and Judy Pfaff, alongside lesser-known works by icons such as Pablo Picasso and Edvard Munch. New exhibitors like Mariposa Gallery (devoted to queer icon Peter Berlin) and established names like Gmurzynska (showcasing Dan Basen) join the fair, which emphasizes self-taught artists and politically poignant themes.

Bollywood Star Sonam Kapoor on the Women Who Shaped Her Eye for South Asian Art

Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor discusses her evolution as an art collector, shaped by the women in her family—her mother Sunita Kapoor and aunt Kavita Singh, a Mumbai-based interior designer and art curator. Kapoor began collecting instinctively, drawn to South Asian modernists like Amrita Sher-Gil and Manjit Bawa, but has recently shifted toward contemporary works and underrepresented artists, especially women and those outside major art hubs. She sources art from galleries such as Jhaveri Contemporary, Chemould Prescott, and Nature Morte, as well as auction houses including Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Saffronart. Kapoor was on the host committee for the Serpentine Summer Party in London, where she admired Arpita Singh’s first institutional solo show outside India.

11 new art shows in India we’re excited about this August

Vogue India highlights 11 new art shows opening across India in August 2025, including the 8th edition of Delhi Contemporary Art Week, which brings together six women-led galleries. Notable exhibitions include 'The Personal is Mythical' at Latitude 28 featuring Gond artist Bhajju Shyam, 'Roots of the Earth' at Jhaveri Contemporary exploring marginalized histories, and a solo show of Madhvi Parekh at DAG celebrating her folk modernist works. Other shows include 'Objects May Appear Softer…' at Black Cube Gallery, focusing on Indian female artists.

All that is trending in the art, entertainment, and culinary world

This article highlights several cultural events in India, including Kallol Datta's solo exhibition "Volume IV: Truths, Half-Truths, Half-Lies, Lies" at Experimenter Colaba in Mumbai, which critiques historical regulations on women's attire using textile-based works. It also covers the 8th edition of Delhi Contemporary Art Week (DCAW) at Bikaner House, featuring six women-led galleries; Partha Pratim Deb's solo show "Play-Forms" at Emami Art in Kolkata; the group exhibition "Non-Residency" at Jaipur Centre for Art curated by Rajiv Menon; and the reopening of Bombay Club café in New Delhi. Additionally, it mentions Khyber restaurant's 65th anniversary menu and a forthcoming exhibition "What Am I Made Of?" at Latitude 28.

Shobhaa De Inaugurates Viveek Sharma's New Solo Exhibition 'Sacred Gestures' at Jehangir Art Gallery

Zen Crafart has opened 'Sacred Gestures', a solo exhibition by contemporary Indian artist Viveek Sharma, at Mumbai's Jehangir Art Gallery. The show was inaugurated by novelist and columnist Shobhaa De and runs from December 2 to 8, 2025. The exhibition features works that blend Lavani-inspired movement, divine feminine symbolism, and pop culture motifs, exploring femininity through dramatic lighting and saturated hues. It follows Sharma's earlier Delhi exhibition 'Silence Please', which received strong acclaim from collectors and cultural figures.

May Art And Culture Calendar: Every Exhibit, Live Performance, And Concert Worth Your Visit

This article is a curated calendar of art and culture events in Delhi and Mumbai for May and June 2026. Highlights include a photography exhibition of Satyajit Ray by Nemai Ghosh at DAG, a documentary photography show by Jyoti Bhatt at Gallery Vayu in collaboration with LATITUDE 28, a candlelight concert tribute to A.R. Rahman at Le Méridien, a group exhibition titled 'Slow Rot' at Method Delhi exploring vulnerability and the grotesque, and a dance performance celebrating Rabindranath Tagore at NCPA.

Looking Beyond the Conflict: What's driving contemporary artists from Sri Lanka?

Contemporary artists from Sri Lanka are gaining visibility across South Asia through gallery exhibitions, institutional shows, and art fairs. At Experimenter in Colaba, Pushpakanthan Pakkiyarajah's solo show 'No Race, No Colour' features installations like 'Charred Hyphal Mat' that explore organic communication and wounded ecologies rooted in the country's three-decade civil war. At the Art Mumbai fair, Hema Shironi uses fabric and green mesh to address post-war reconciliation, while earlier in Delhi, the twin exhibitions 'Homes Wrapped in Cloth, Borders Raised in Flags' and 'After Aphantasias' by Shrine Empire showcased similar themes. Artists such as Anoli Perera, Kingsley Gunatillake, Pala Pothupitye, and others are collectively presenting nuanced perspectives on memory, ecology, and joy beyond the conflict.

Project 88 and Vadehra Art Gallery at No.9 Cork Street for London Gallery Weekend

Project 88 and Vadehra Art Gallery, two leading Indian galleries, will present exhibitions at Frieze’s No.9 Cork Street space in London from 5th–28th June 2026, coinciding with London Gallery Weekend. Project 88 debuts with 'Treeish', a group show curated by Prajna Desai featuring artists Claire Baker, Mahesh Baliga, Neha Choksi, Goutam Ghosh, Trupti Patel, and Tejal Shah, exploring the agency of trees through diverse media. Vadehra Art Gallery returns with 'A Singular Modernist', a solo exhibition dedicated to the late modernist painter A. Ramachandran (1935–2023), showcasing works from his Puppet Theatre series and later lotus pond imagery.

Boman Irani: Art can calm you, excite you, and make you do better things in life

Actor Boman Irani inaugurated the group exhibition 'To Be Continued…' at the prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai. Featuring nearly 70 works ranging from scrap metal sculptures to 3D canvases, the show brings together a diverse group of emerging and established artists. During the event, Irani engaged personally with the participants, emphasizing the role of galleries as essential spaces for creative inspiration and human development.

Back to Assam: British Museum agrees to loan fragile tapestry showing Krishna’s life

The British Museum has reached an agreement with the state government of Assam to loan the Vrindavani Vastra, a 350-year-old sacred tapestry depicting the life of Krishna, for a six-month period starting in 2027. The loan is contingent upon the construction of a specialized new extension at the Assam State Museum in Guwahati to accommodate the textile's extreme fragility. This marks the first time the artifact, which features the earliest known Assamese inscriptions, will return to its place of origin since it was acquired by the British Museum following the 1904 Younghusband expedition to Tibet.

Indian art is having its breakout moment. Here's who's driving it

Three record-breaking auctions in New York and Mumbai have vaulted Indian modern art into global headlines. At Christie’s New York, M.F. Husain’s *Gram Yatra* sold for ₹118 crore, the highest price ever for an Indian artwork. Tyeb Mehta’s *Trussed Bull* fetched ₹61.8 crore at Saffronart’s Mumbai sale, nearly nine times its high estimate, while Jagdish Swaminathan’s *Homage to Solzhenitsyn* crossed ₹39 crore at Sotheby’s New York. Together, these sales raked in over ₹220 crore.

9 artists break auction records at Sotheby’s South Asian sale.

Nine artists broke auction records at Sotheby’s modern and contemporary South Asian sale in New York on March 17, 2025. The sale totaled $16.8 million, more than tripling its low estimate of $4.9 million. The top lot was Jagdish Swaminathan’s triptych *Homage to Solzhenitsyn* (1973), which sold for $4.68 million, far exceeding its estimate. Jehangir Sabavala’s *The Journey of the Magi* (1963) followed at $2.73 million. Other record-breakers included Ganesh Pyne, Madhvi Parekh, Nelly Sethna, Sheikh Mohammed Sultan, Mohan Sharma, and M. Sain.

Creativity, contrast, conversation: Mumbai’s Tao Art Gallery promotes dialogue through exibitions

Mumbai’s Tao Art Gallery is fostering artistic dialogue through a series of exhibitions that emphasize creativity, contrast, and conversation. The gallery’s programming highlights diverse visual narratives and encourages engagement between artists and audiences.

He Who Permeates Exhibition at Tao Art Gallery Explores Myth, Identity and Visual Culture

The exhibition 'He Who Permeates' is currently on view at Tao Art Gallery in Mumbai, curated by Mihir Thakkar. It features contemporary artists Jayesh Sachdev and NFN Kalyan, exploring how imagery and symbols are reinterpreted across cultural contexts in a hyper-visual age. The show runs daily from 11 am to 6:30 pm until May 28, 2026, and marks NFN Kalyan's first presentation in India.

9 new art shows in India we’re excited about this March

India’s March art calendar features a diverse array of exhibitions across major cities, highlighting themes of labor, environmental harmony, and urban survival. Key shows include Arpan Sadhukhan’s woodcut and sculptural installation at Srishti Art Gallery in Hyderabad, which explores political dissent through material resistance, and the 19th edition of 'The Baroda March' at Rukshaan Art in Mumbai, showcasing nearly fifty artists influenced by the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda pedagogy.

Marinella Senatore's exhibition in Milan is a party in name and in fact

La mostra dell’artista Marinella Senatore a Milano è una festa di nome e di fatto

Marinella Senatore's solo exhibition "FESTA!" opens at Mazzoleni's Milan space, marking both the artist's first show at the gallery and the gallery's 40th anniversary. The exhibition presents new works including sketches, drawings, and embroidered tapestries that reinterpret Baroque public celebrations as participatory, community-driven art. The tapestries, produced in collaboration with the Chanakya school in Mumbai, feature motifs from 17th- and 18th-century festivities—ephemeral architecture, light displays, and fireworks—transformed into contemporary banners that activate the gallery space.

Heiner Goebbels’ Landscape Plays faces an uphill battle to appeal to the public

The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Mumbai is hosting the first solo exhibition in India of German composer Heiner Goebbels, titled 'Landscape Plays'. The exhibition, presented by the Goethe-Institut, features six slow-moving, non-narrative video installations that challenge traditional viewing habits with their meditative, plotless approach.