FineTouch will present KALABIMB–26, the ninth edition of its national group art exhibition, at the Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The exhibition will bring together paintings, sculptures, photography, and mixed-media works by 25 artists representing diverse contemporary artistic practices from across India and abroad.

Exhibition Opens in June

The exhibition will be inaugurated on 5 June 2026 at 6:30 PM at the Visual Art Gallery, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. The public exhibition will run from 6 June to 9 June 2026 between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

KALABIMB–26 is curated by Ravindra Kumar Tanwar and Balwinder Tanwar. According to the curators, the exhibition has been conceived as a platform for artistic exchange and dialogue that reflects contemporary social and cultural realities through visual art.

Eminent Guests at the Inauguration

The opening ceremony will feature eminent artist and educator Niren Sen Gupta as Special Guest and Prof. Rajbir Singh, former Vice Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, as Chief Guest.

Guests of Honour include Prof. (Dr.) K.G. Suresh, Director of the India Habitat Centre, and Dr. Sharanjeet Kaur, former Chairperson of the Rehabilitation Council of India.

The India Habitat Centre is widely known for hosting visual art exhibitions, cultural festivals, theatre performances, and interdisciplinary public programmes in New Delhi. (India Habitat Centre)

Exploring Contemporary Themes

The exhibition examines a wide range of themes including identity, spirituality, environmental consciousness, urban transformation, memory, and social realities. The participating artists engage with both traditional and experimental approaches, creating a dialogue between established practices and newer visual languages.

The curators noted that KALABIMB–26 is not intended as a historical survey of Indian art, but rather as a reflection on contemporary artistic expressions connected to present-day experiences and concerns.

Participating Artists

Artists featured in the exhibition include:

Several participating artists have previously exhibited in national and independent gallery platforms, while FineTouch has continued to organise recurring exhibitions and educational art initiatives in New Delhi through its art programmes and events. (finetouch.info)

Artistic Diversity and Mediums

KALABIMB–26 includes works across multiple mediums and styles, ranging from abstract expressionism and impressionistic explorations to miniature painting, sculpture, textile installations, and environmentally engaged works.

Highlights of the Exhibition

• Contemporary paintings and mixed-media works
• Sculptural and relief art installations
• Textile and environmentally themed artworks
• Spiritual and meditative visual narratives
• Experimental approaches combining tradition and innovation

The exhibition aims to encourage audiences to reflect on contemporary life and engage with artistic responses to cultural and social change.

FineTouch and Its Continuing Initiatives

FineTouch has been actively involved in promoting visual arts through exhibitions, workshops, educational activities, and artist-led initiatives. Earlier editions of KALABIMB have also been organised at the India Habitat Centre, establishing the exhibition as a recurring platform for contemporary artists. (YouTube)

Members of the art fraternity, collectors, students, critics, and visitors are invited to attend the exhibition during its public viewing dates.

Event at a Glance Table

Takeaway

KALABIMB–26 reflects the growing diversity and experimentation within contemporary Indian art. By bringing together artists from varied backgrounds and practices, the exhibition creates a shared space for dialogue, reflection, and cultural engagement. Through its focus on social realities, environmental concerns, and personal narratives, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to experience how contemporary art continues to respond to changing times and evolving identities.

Mumbai’s historic art district of Kala Ghoda will host Where Silence Becomes Form, a solo exhibition by contemporary Indian artist Nidhi Sharma at Hall 1 of Jehangir Art Gallery from 9 to 15 June 2026. The exhibition presents a new body of paintings that examines stillness, memory and landscape through layered acrylic surfaces and atmospheric compositions, inviting visitors into spaces of contemplation and quiet reflection.

Exploring Silence Through Landscape

At the centre of the exhibition is the idea of silence as an active presence rather than an absence. Sharma approaches landscape not as a literal depiction of place but as an internal experience shaped by memory, perception and emotion. Her paintings draw viewers into environments where horizons soften, forms dissolve and light emerges gradually through layered surfaces.

Inspired by the Himalayan terrain, the works move between visibility and disappearance, creating visual experiences that suggest remembered places rather than observed scenes. The exhibition focuses on how landscape can become psychological and meditative, transcending geography to evoke states of reflection.

A New Body of Work

The exhibition brings together large-scale paintings and smaller intimate studies linked by a consistent visual language rooted in stillness and spatial memory.

Highlights of the exhibition include:

• Large-format acrylic paintings inspired by Himalayan landscapes
• Layered surfaces with mist-like transitions and restrained colour palettes
• Intimate studies exploring memory and perception
• Abstract and semi-abstract compositions centred on light and atmosphere
• Works examining presence, absence and emotional space

Through these interconnected pieces, Sharma develops a contemplative narrative where silence becomes a visual form.

About the Artist

 

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Nidhi Sharma is a contemporary Indian artist whose practice investigates memory, stillness and landscape as emotional experience. Working primarily with acrylics, she draws inspiration from Himalayan environments, forgotten temple spaces and the relationship between presence and absence.

Over the years, Sharma has exhibited across India and internationally, including presentations and participation in art fairs in Tokyo, Dubai, Hong Kong and Mumbai. Her artistic process combines intuitive layering with abstraction, resulting in atmospheric compositions that balance materiality with recollection. Contemporary art audiences may also recognise her work from recent presentations of abstract landscape-based paintings at Indian art fairs and gallery exhibitions.

A Venue at the Heart of Indian Contemporary Art

The exhibition will be held at Jehangir Art Gallery, one of Mumbai’s most significant cultural institutions. Established in 1952 in Kala Ghoda, the gallery has played a major role in the development and presentation of modern and contemporary Indian art for more than seven decades. It regularly hosts exhibitions by painters, sculptors, photographers and multidisciplinary artists, making it a key destination within Mumbai’s cultural landscape.

Located within the Kala Ghoda Art Precinct, the gallery sits among museums, cultural organisations and heritage buildings that have helped shape the area into one of India’s most active arts districts.

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Contemporary Reflections on Place and Memory

Landscape has long been a recurring theme in contemporary art, yet Sharma’s approach emphasises atmosphere and inner experience over representation. Her paintings suggest a slow engagement with place, where memory, light and silence intersect. The resulting works offer viewers an opportunity to pause amid the pace of urban life and consider how landscapes continue to exist within personal and collective memory.

Looking Ahead

With Where Silence Becomes Form, Nidhi Sharma presents a thoughtful exploration of landscape as an emotional and contemplative space. The exhibition contributes to ongoing conversations around memory, perception and the relationship between humans and their environments. For visitors, it offers a moment of quiet observation; for the broader cultural community, it highlights the continuing relevance of reflective artistic practices in contemporary society.

A new exhibition titled “How the Akanksha Children Found Their Colours” will open on May 29 at 47-A in Khotachi Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai. Running until June 7 and closed on Mondays, the exhibition brings together artworks created by children from underserved communities who have explored artistic expression through interpretations of renowned artists and art traditions. The show presents a visual journey of creativity, imagination and self-discovery through painting and mixed-media works.

Young Artists Reimagine Art History

The exhibition centres on children who have been introduced to art as a means of understanding and expressing their experiences. Drawing inspiration from artists including Vincent van Gogh, M. F. Husain, Jamini Roy, Georgia O’Keeffeand Banksy, the children have created works that connect iconic artistic languages with their own observations, relationships and aspirations.

According to the organisers, the exhibition reflects how creative engagement can provide young people with a new lens through which to view themselves and the world around them.

From The Starry Night to the Bombay Skyline

Among the featured works is a reinterpretation of Van Gogh’s celebrated painting The Starry Night, transformed into a vision of Mumbai’s skyline. Other artworks revisit traditional Indian visual forms such as Tanjore painting while connecting them to contemporary personal narratives.

Highlights of the exhibition include:

• A Mumbai-inspired reimagining of The Starry Night
• Works influenced by the artistic approaches of M.F. Husain
• Personal interpretations of Tanjore painting traditions
• Art inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s exploration of form and nature
• Stencil-based works drawing from the visual language of Banksy

Art as a Space for Self-Expression

The exhibition emphasises the role of art education in encouraging confidence, observation and storytelling. Through exposure to diverse artistic traditions, participants were encouraged to explore themes of identity, family, community and hope.

Several works focus on the importance of mothers, family bonds and everyday experiences, demonstrating how classical and contemporary artistic references can become vehicles for personal expression.

About 47-A and Khotachi Wadi

The exhibition will be hosted at 47-A Gallery, a venue dedicated to art, craft and design located in the historic neighbourhood of Khotachi Wadi, Girgaum. The gallery occupies the ground floor of a restored 19th-century Portuguese-style bungalow and regularly presents exhibitions exploring the intersections of craft, design and contemporary artistic practice.

Founded through a collaboration involving Chatterjee & Lal and Baro Market, 47-A has established itself as a cultural venue that combines exhibitions with community engagement and heritage-focused programming.

A Heritage Setting in the Heart of Mumbai

Khotachi Wadi is one of Mumbai’s best-known heritage precincts, recognised for its Portuguese-influenced architecture and long cultural history. The neighbourhood remains an important reminder of the city’s layered urban heritage and has become a destination for art, architecture and cultural events.

Visitors attending the exhibition will have the opportunity to experience both the artworks and the distinctive atmosphere of this historic enclave.

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Takeaway

“How the Akanksha Children Found Their Colours” presents art not only as a creative activity but also as a means of reflection and empowerment. By reinterpreting the works of influential artists through their own experiences, the participating children offer new perspectives on familiar visual traditions. Set within the heritage surroundings of Khotachi Wadi, the exhibition highlights the potential of arts education to foster imagination, confidence and cultural engagement while inviting visitors to encounter stories of hope expressed through colour and creativity.

Aalekh Arts & Culture Foundation will present Shades of Grey, a contemporary art exhibition by artist Divyaman Singh, at the Main Art Gallery, Bikaner House, Delhi. The exhibition opens with an invitation-only preview on 29 May 2026 and will be open to the public from 30 May to 1 June 2026. Following a presentation in Bengaluru earlier this year, the exhibition arrives in Delhi with a body of work centred on the emotional and psychological dimensions of womanhood.

Landscapes as Emotional Narratives

Rather than depicting the female figure directly, Shades of Grey employs abstract landscapes and atmospheric horizons as metaphors for inner emotional experiences. Through tonal greys, layered textures and shifting visual fields, the works create contemplative spaces that invite reflection on memory, resilience, vulnerability and strength.

The monochromatic approach forms a central element of the exhibition, positioning grey not as an absence of colour but as a spectrum capable of conveying subtle emotional states and transitions.

Exploring the Many Layers of Womanhood

According to the exhibition concept, the artworks seek to examine experiences often associated with womanhood, including introspection, quiet resilience and emotional complexity. The paintings encourage viewers to engage with themes that exist beyond fixed definitions and binaries, using abstraction to evoke personal interpretation.

Exhibition Highlights

• A series of oil-on-canvas contemporary artworks
• Monochromatic landscapes and abstract horizons
• Themes of resilience, memory, vulnerability and strength
• Exploration of emotional experiences through abstraction
• A contemplative visual language rooted in atmosphere and texture

About the Artist

 

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Artist Divyaman Singh is known for his contemporary and abstract artistic practice that combines intuitive visual expression with conceptual exploration. A self-taught artist, Singh has previously presented solo exhibitions and has developed a body of work spanning abstract, philosophical and thematic subjects. He is also associated with Aalekh Arts & Culture Foundation’s arts initiatives.

Speaking about the exhibition, Singh describes the landscape as an emotional terrain where tonal variations become vehicles for expressing memory, restraint, resilience and inner strength.

Aalekh Foundation’s Cultural Engagement

The exhibition is organised by Aalekh Arts & Culture Foundation under the leadership of founder Dr. Rennie Joyy. Established with a broader mission of social engagement and empowerment, the foundation has increasingly expanded its cultural programming through exhibitions, dialogues and artistic collaborations that connect contemporary art with social reflection.

Dr. Joyy notes that the exhibition continues the organisation’s commitment to creating spaces where art can encourage dialogue around social experiences and human emotions.

About the Organiser

• Promotes cultural and artistic initiatives alongside social development programmes
• Supports platforms for contemporary artistic expression
• Encourages dialogue around identity, empowerment and social issues
• Organises exhibitions, awards and cultural events across India

Bikaner House as an Art Destination

The exhibition will be hosted at the Main Art Gallery of Bikaner House, one of New Delhi’s established cultural venues known for hosting exhibitions, art fairs, performances and contemporary art presentations. The venue regularly serves as a meeting point for artists, collectors, curators and the wider public, contributing to the city’s active cultural calendar.

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Takeaway

Through abstract landscapes and restrained monochromatic compositions, Shades of Grey offers an exploration of emotional experiences associated with womanhood. The exhibition demonstrates how contemporary art can provide space for reflection, dialogue and interpretation while engaging audiences with themes of resilience, memory and identity. As it arrives in Delhi, the exhibition contributes to ongoing conversations about representation, emotion and lived experience within contemporary cultural practice.

Scheduled for May 23-24, 2026, the Giftex ‘World of Collectibles’ auction will offer collectors and connoisseurs an opportunity to acquire extraordinary pieces that embody history, craftsmanship, and artistic excellence. The exceptional collection will feature antique furniture, Baccarat and F & C Osler chandeliers, Satsuma vases, rare books, maps, antique clocks, fine carpets, decorative silver pieces, and sculptures. The auction celebrates the beauty of history, art, and design.

A rare first edition of The Rhododendrons of Sikkim-Himalaya by Joseph Dalton Hooker will headline Giftex’s upcoming World of Collectibles auction. Featured as lot no. 81, the 1849 publication is illustrated with 30 hand-coloured lithographic plates by Walter Hood Fitch and documents rhododendron species discovered during Hooker’s expedition to the eastern Himalaya. Celebrated for its exceptional scientific and artistic significance, the work stands as one of the most important highlights of the auction.

Talking about the auction, Mr. Manoj Mansukhani, Director of Marketing at Giftex, said, “World of Collectibles is all about bringing together pieces that have history, character, and incredible craftsmanship. From rare books and grand chandeliers to beautiful furniture and decorative treasures, every lot in this auction has something special about it. We wanted to create an experience that feels truly special for collectors and art lovers.”

Adding to the auction’s remarkable selection of historical and artistic treasures is lot no. 8, Decima Asiae Tabula, a map of the Indian subcontinent by Jacobus Pentius de Leucho. Based on the cartographic traditions of Claudius Ptolemy’s Geographia, it represents one of the earliest printed European depictions of India. The map is distinguished by its schematic geography, classical toponyms, and the fine use of red and black printing to differentiate names and geographic features.

The timepieces, silver, textile, and decorative objects section brings together exceptional examples showcasing the elegance, grandeur, and decorative artistry that defined historic interior décor across various eras. Lot no. 59 features an opulent French gilt-bronze clock garniture set comprising an elaborately decorated mantel clock accompanied by a pair of monumental multi-light candelabra. The ensemble features Rococo-inspired scrollwork, foliate motifs, female figures, and cherubic putti.

Lot no. 75 features a magnificent Persian Kashan carpet originating from the renowned weaving region of Kashan in central Iran. The carpet showcases a striking central medallion set against a soft ivory field with delicate pale blue accents. It features arabesques, floral motifs, and flowing vine work.

Lot no. 45 presents an exquisite Chinese silver tea service comprising a teapot, a set of cups, and a matching tray. The ensemble is decorated with applied gilt decoration and intricate repoussé work. The finely crafted tray, featuring a scalloped rim and engraved central medallion, complements the teapot and cups, showcasing exceptional artistry and the decorative traditions of 20th-century Chinese silverware.

Lot no. 26 presents an opulent cut-crystal chandelier by Baccarat. Executed in cut-crystal and gilt bronze, the multi-tiered chandelier features faceted drops, icicle prisms, elegant candle arms, and a central stem. Radiating brilliance and timeless European luxury, it stands as a remarkable centerpiece of exceptional craftsmanship.

Another significant highlight is the lot no. 19, a large Satsuma vase that exemplifies the craftsmanship associated with traditional Japanese earthenware. Elegantly proportioned with a tall baluster body and flared neck, the vase is richly decorated within a serene landscape. Finely robed figures, blossoming trees, architectural motifs, and natural scenery combine to evoke the enduring aesthetic sensibilities of Japanese decorative arts.

The furniture section includes an exquisite selection of pieces celebrated for their masterful craftsmanship and ornate detailing. One of the highlights is lot no. 90, an impressive French oakwood buffet sideboard executed in the French Renaissance Revival style. The piece features intricate foliate scrollwork, masks, pendant garlands, and finely carved figural motifs in deep relief. The elaborate upper section with open shelves and turned supports is complemented by panelled cupboard doors and a robust moulded base.

Inside the stone corridors and former prison cells of Goa’s heritage Aguad Port and Jail complex located in the stunning coastal village of Sinquerim, over 30 women artists have come together for Show of Strength, a large-scale exhibition that has transformed a historic site once associated with control and confinement into a space for dialogue, memory, resilience and contemporary artistic expression.

Panaji, May 2026 – At the Aguad Port and Jail Complex, the heritage architecture speaks for itself even before visitors encounter the stunning artworks on display during Show of Strength, through which 37 women artists from Goa have showcased works spanning painting, sculpture, textile, photography, installation and digital art.

Conceived by well-known curator Samira Sheth, the exhibition has brought together 37 women artists across generations and practices, ranging from established names to emerging practitioners and neurodivergent artists. At the Aguad Port and Jail Complex in Goa, the exhibition uses the architecture of the 17th-century site as more than just a stunning backdrop – it becomes an integral part of the experience itself.

That authenticity forms the core of the exhibition. The participating artists present works across painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture, installation, crochet, textile and digital media, embracing differences in medium, style and artistic language.

The exhibition opened earlier in March, coinciding with Women’s History Month celebrated globally, with works that evoke feminine power and spiritual resilience. Artists such as Nirupa Naik, Sonia Rodrigues Sabharwal and Venita Coelho draw upon goddess imagery and mythic symbolism, while the sculptural and installation-based works of Anu Malhotra, Rajeshree Thakker and Katharina Kakar explore elemental energy, ritual and sacred space. Artists including Gopika Nath, Liesl Cotta de Souza and Nirja Puri also reflect on emotional landscapes, solitude, healing and female solidarity through deeply personal visual languages.

At Show of Strength, the materials used become a vehicle for storytelling itself. The works of artists such as Darpan Kaur, Chaitali Morajkar and the Crochet Collective use texture, thread and layered forms to engage with inherited burdens, childhood conditioning and the psychological weight often carried by women.

Among the most striking inclusions are works emerging from inclusive and accessible artistic practices. Sheth points to artists such as Maria Andrade, a neurodivergent artist from Divya Sadan, whom she describes as someone who “wakes up every morning looking forward to painting”, and Frederika Menezes, who creates digital paintings using a single finger on a tablet. Their inclusion expands the exhibition beyond representation into a broader reflection on artistic commitment and access.

The exhibition also remains deeply rooted in Goa’s social and ecological realities. Through paintings and textile works, artists such as Clarice Vaz, Assavri Kulkarni, Minakshi Singh and Savia Viegas highlight invisible labour, indigenous practices and women’s relationships with land and livelihood.

Clarice Vaz describes the exhibition as a reflection of resilience that does not always announce itself loudly. “The strength of women is often quiet and gentle, yet layered with immense power and resilience,” she said.

Meanwhile, artists including Miriam Koshy, Loretti Pinto and Saffron Wiehl examine Goa’s changing ecology and urban transformation, reflecting anxieties around environmental erosion, shifting communities and cultural memory through their exhibited works.

What gives the exhibition additional resonance is its setting. The Aguad complex, historically linked to surveillance, confinement and colonial authority, offers an intentional contrast to the freedom and plurality of voices on display.

“Choosing Aguad as a venue was intentional; its history of control and confinement, originally built to regulate movement and assert power, provides a powerful contrast to the freedom of expression celebrated by over 30 women artists and this makes it meaningful. By occupying these former cells and enclosures, the contemporary exhibition by women symbolically reclaims the space, transforming a site of restriction and containment into a liberating surge of art and creativity,” Sheth said.

“Heritage sites like Aguad are more than colonial monuments; they hold layers of architectural, social and cultural history. While they often reflect dominant narratives of power, they also hold the invisible stories of local communities, everyday lives and practices and evolving cultural identities, even if these are not acknowledged. Engaging with these spaces through contemporary art and exhibitions reactivates them from mere static monuments into sites of interpretation and conversation that continue to evolve,” the curator also said.

A new group exhibition titled Next/Now will open in New Delhi on 29 May 2026, bringing together artists featured in ARTIndia Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list. Organised in collaboration with ARTIndia Magazine and Vadehra Art Gallery, the exhibition presents recent works by 30 emerging practitioners working across contemporary mediums.

The exhibition opens from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Vadehra Art’s gallery space at D-53, Defence Colony, as part of Defence Colony Gallery Night.

Focus on Emerging Contemporary Practices

Next/Now brings together a younger generation of artists whose practices explore identity, memory, technology, material experimentation, social realities, and contemporary culture. According to the organisers, the exhibition reflects the concerns and artistic approaches shaping a new phase of contemporary Indian art.

The participating artists were selected as part of ARTIndia Magazine’s “30 Under 30” initiative, launched during the publication’s 30th anniversary year. The platform highlights emerging practitioners from across India through an open-call and jury-led selection process.

Collaboration Between ARTIndia and Vadehra Art

 

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Founded in 1990, Vadehra Art Gallery has been associated with modern and contemporary Indian art through exhibitions, artist representation, and institutional collaborations. The gallery’s Defence Colony space has become part of Delhi’s growing network of gallery districts, alongside regular public art walks and gallery nights.

ARTIndia Magazine, meanwhile, has been active in documenting and supporting contemporary art discourse in India through publishing, education initiatives, and artist-focused programmes. The “30 Under 30” edition was conceived as part of the magazine’s 30-year milestone celebrations.

Exhibition Highlights

• Works by 30 emerging contemporary artists
• Multiple mediums including painting, sculpture, installation, photography, and mixed media
• Exhibition opening during Defence Colony Gallery Night
• Collaborative initiative between ARTIndia and Vadehra Art
• Partial proceeds supporting ARTIndia Care Fund

Support for ARTIndia Care Fund

A section of the exhibition proceeds will contribute to the ARTIndia Care Fund, an initiative focused on supporting medical care for young artists. The organisers said the fundraising component is intended to address healthcare support within the artistic community.

The exhibition also acknowledges the support of Sangita Jindal, President of ARTIndia, along with members of the “30 Under 30” jury including Himanshu Kadam, Jaiveer Johal, Shaleen Wadhwana, Varunika Saraf, and Veerangana Solanki.

Defence Colony Gallery Night

The opening coincides with Defence Colony Gallery Night, a recurring art event that encourages visitors to move between galleries in the neighbourhood. In recent years, Defence Colony has emerged as one of Delhi’s active contemporary art districts with increasing public participation in gallery events and exhibition walks.

Visitor Information

The exhibition opens on Friday, 29 May 2026, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Vadehra Art, D-53 Defence Colony, New Delhi.

Takeaway

With Next/Now, ARTIndia and Vadehra Art bring attention to a younger generation of practitioners working across contemporary forms and ideas. The exhibition also reflects broader conversations around support systems, visibility, and sustainability within the arts ecosystem. By combining exhibition-making with community support initiatives, the project situates emerging artistic practice within a wider cultural and social context.