Esquire India's Hot List: June's Must See Art Exhibitions
From established icons to gallery disruptors, these June art shows are rewiring how we see, feel and exist
We're halfway through the year, and if you've been feeling that same old itch again- the one that creeps in when the days get monotonous and you are caught on the treadmill of work, wine, repeat. You know the drill.
While a few art gallery strolls might not be the obvious fix, there's something to be said about stepping into a room where colour does the talking and silence are only for the people around you.
There's more happening in the space between your mind and your the art your are perceiving- more than admiration, it calls for an internal monologue, perhaps the kind that never gets going on the treadmill of monotony.
This month, treat visit an art exhibition like an art checklist or a place to uplift your mood. Instead, consider it as a chance to wander into the world that shifts your perceptive, helps you break away from the strangle of algorithm in an anti-scroll space. The exhibitions are bound to drag you out of yourself into something messier, richer, more human.
You may also like
From a hundredth year of a legacy in oil paint and archival memory to shows that recall gods, myths to those that invite you to rethink truth and belonging, here is a hot list of recommended art exhibitions you must visit:
Bhakti: Krishna’s Grace
A rare, sensorial exploration of devotion to Lord Krishna insightfully curated by Ashvin E. Rajagopalan uses artworks and craft to celebrate the Vaishnavite expression of devotion to Krishna. From caves to temples, sacred paintings to folk traditions, and carvings to everyday objects of worship, the presentation offers a unique perspective on Indian culture and heritage.
Taking pan-India perspective, the exhibition that journeys through all four levels of NMACC’s Art House, starting from the top floor and moving downward, depicts different facet of Bhakti to evoke a spiritual journey of a devotee himself.
Moreover, the exhibition delves into the universal values of love, humanity, devotion, humility, and courage—shared values that connect people across cultures and generations—through the lens of Krishna-centred devotion.
These carefully curated displays pay tribute to both the spiritual narratives of Krishna and Vishnu, as well as the countless individuals—artists, devotees, and storytellers—whose lives have become part of this enduring legacy.
When: June 20- August 15, 2025
Where: Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), Mumbai
You may also like
Zaat: Exploring Womanhood Through Metal and Memory
Zaat is a sculptural installation by RCA graduate Sonakshi Chaturvedi that explores womanhood through heirloom metals and embroidery, weaving together matrilineal memory and materiality. An evocative, tactile, and deeply resonant exhibition, Zaat channels each stich and welded piece into a powerful dialogue on identity, heritage and feminine legacy.
When: June 11- July 31, 2025
Where: The Gallery, British Council Gallery, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Delhi
You may also like
What The Flame Could Never Burn by Adébayo Bolaji
A slow-burning poetic show that threads together how individuals rise after pain. The exhibition reflects on how something in us refuses to disappear, even when changed. This body of work is about that refusal, the quiet strength one discovers not before struggle, but through it and a shared humanity even though externally we may be different.
When: June 11- July 31, 2025
Where: Nature Morte, Mumbai
Voir Dire: Part II
The second chapter of Voir Dire continues its sharp inquiry into truth and storytelling. Part confessional, part critique, the group show featuring some of India’s most well-known artists is a thought-provoking group exhibition that continues to explore the intersection of truth, perception, and artistic expression. This edition places a special focus on materiality and nature.
When: June 12- July 11, 2025
Where: Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art, Colaba, Mumbai
You may also like
Unedited, Like an Afternoon Dream: Towards Abstraction and Towards Portraiture
This captivating art exhibition explores the intricate dance between abstraction and portraiture, delving into the realms of personal mythology, memory, and symbolism.
By inviting viewers to contemplate the mental images that shape our understanding of ourselves and the world, the exhibition that presents works from various artists including Sudhir Patwardhan, Atul Dodiya, Balakrishna Doshi, Leela Mukherjee offers a profound reflection on human cognition and connection – to ourselves, others, and the world around us
When: June 11 – July 18, 2025
Where: Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
Shifting Paradigms 1980s-2025
An annual exhibition that focuses in the current artworks Summer Show- Shifting Paradigms 1980s-2025 attempts to reveal a dialogue between the past and the present though art. it is about transformation , identity, memory and the tensions between then and now.
When: 14 June- August 2, 2025
Where: CIMA Gallery, Kolkata