Ever so often, in our conversations about the world, its shifting politics, its quiet griefs and loud triumphs, its fleeting hopes and lingering histories we stumble upon moments that feel oddly intimate. Like a random handful from a bag of popcorn, some moments are bland, some unexpectedly flavourful, and some linger in ways we didn’t anticipate. We find ourselves going through these bouts every now and again.
Occasionally, a space — physical or emotional — offers us a chance to turn inward, stirring up thoughts long buried, and evoking questions we didn’t know we needed to ask. Or simply, make us experience the present moment and its stillness by removing us completely from what is happening inside to what is happening in front of us.
One such place is an art gallery that cuts through the daily noise every once in a while when you visit it. In a city like Mumbai, where culture is always on the move, art shows aren’t restricted to the collectors and critics, they’re where ideas, conversations, and Instagram feeds come alive(you like it or not, there are some who always do it for the Gram than real interest ).
Whether you're a casual browser or a committed gallery-hopper, there's always something new to see (and post about). So, as part of our monthly ritual, we've rounded up the must-see exhibitions, this time a Mumbai edition — from buzzy new names to bold installations and everything in between.
VOICES
Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, 16–24 July 2025
Presented by Bespoke Art Gallery, Ahmedabad and curated by Uma Nair, the debut showcase ,VOICES, is a sweeping group show featuring 26 artists from India and abroad, all bringing their unique lens to themes like identity, mythology, climate, and culture. Think bold paintings, striking sculpture, intricate ceramics, and standout mixed media.
You’ll find everything from Bhajju Shyam’s layered Gond storytelling to Ankon Mitra’s poetic origami installation, plus statement sculptures by Arzan Khambatta and Harsha Durugadda.
Muzaffar Ali's HoshrubaJehangir Art Gallery
One of the highlights? Muzaffar Ali’s Hoshruba, a cinematic horizontal work filled with his signature equine energy, alongside his elegant calligraphy pieces. Also watch for Arpitha Reddy’s modern take on the Dashavataras, a beautiful bridge between tradition and modernity.
The international lineup packs a punch too, featuring the likes of Timur D’Vatz (Guinness Prize winner at the Royal Academy), Uzbek painter Bobur Ismailov, and iconic sculptural duo Gillie & Marc. Whether you're into lyrical abstraction or high-drama bronze, there's something here for every kind of art lover — and plenty to talk about after.
Aji VN: Variations on a Tide
Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, Until 26 July 2025
This group show quietly pulls you in like the tide it’s named after. Featuring a thoughtful selection of works from emerging and established names, Aji VN explores the fluidity of form, time, and identity through mixed media, painting, and conceptual installations.
Aji VN's art work currently showcased at the art gallery in Fort, Mumbai Galeria Mirchandani and Steinruecke
The gallery, always a go-to for sharp, cerebral curation, presents a lineup that’s both meditative and visually striking. Expect pieces that linger with you long after you’ve stepped back out into the chaos of Colaba.
Deconstructed Realms: India’s Tryst with Cubism
DAG, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai, 6th July to 6th September
Forget what you thought you knew about Cubism. This exhibition at DAG gives the movement a uniquely Indian spin, spotlighting how artists across decades have bent, reshaped, and Indianised the angular aesthetics of early 20th-century Europe.
One of India’s most respected artists, K. G. Subramanyan was a contemporary of the Progressives yet charted his own individual path in creating a modern idiom for art, drawing on myths, fables and traditional narratives in a variety of mediums.DAG, Mumbai
It’s both a deep dive and a visual feast, showing how Indian artists absorbed global influences without ever losing sight of their roots. A must-visit for art lovers who like their visuals served with a side of art history.
Riddles of the World: Pooja Shah
Akara Contemporary, Mumbai, 10 July – 5 August
Playful, poetic, and just a little mysterious Pooja Shah’s solo show invites you into a world of painted riddles. Her canvases blend surreal figuration with hints of folklore and fantasy, pulling from both personal memory and cultural myth.
Deliberate Distance II, Acrylic on Canvas, 48 x 84 inches. 2025 by Pooja ShahAkara Art
The works don’t shout; they whisper, draw you in, and leave you wondering. Akara’s intimate setting makes it the perfect space to slow down and let the questions unfold.
Kallol Datta: Volume IV – Truths, Half-Truths, Half-Lies, Lies
At Experimenter at Colaba, Mumbai, 10–20 August
Kallol Datta is back and as provocatively cryptic as ever. This isn’t your typical gallery experience. Part installation, part fashion detour, and fully immersive, Volume IV blurs the boundaries between wearable art, social commentary, and pure visual experimentation.
Kallol Datta's artwork Ocula
Expect sculptural silhouettes, offbeat forms, and a layered take on distortion — of truth, memory, and media. No spoilers, but this one’s a head-trip (in the best possible way).
Roots of the Earth – Prabhakar Kamble & Akshay Mahajan
Jhaveri Contemporary, Mumbai, 10 July -16 August
A short-run show that promises a deep impact. Roots of the Earth brings together visual artist Prabhakar Kamble and photographer Akshay Mahajan in a dual showcase that explores what is left unspoken, foregrounding the histories of silenced majorities through acts of recovery, resistance, and reassembly.
Prabhakar Kamble's work title Utarand, 2022Jhaveri Contemporary
Kamble’s socially charged installations sit alongside Mahajan’s haunting photographic documentation, creating a powerful dialogue between image and object. It’s urgent, earthy, and quietly political. Catch it before it closes.
