Art exhibitions in chennai are redefining the city’s cultural landscape, showcasing everything from contemporary installations to traditional artworks by India’s leading artists. Whether you’re an art lover, collector, or first-time visitor, chennai’s art galleries & expo centers are hosting an incredible lineup of shows this year. This guide highlights the top exhibitions, venues, and creative showcases you shouldn’t miss.
Top Art Exhibitions in chennai 2026
The Body, As Is: S.K. Rajavelu
Event Date
10 April – 22 May 2026
Event Venue
Ashvita’s, Chennai
Event Organizer
Ashvita’s
The Body, As Is, at Ashvita’s, presents a focused exhibition of drawings by S. K. Rajavelu, exploring the human form through a distinctive linear language. Known for his precise and deliberate use of line, Rajavelu constructs figures that are minimal yet structurally complete, where contour replaces volume and balance emerges without reliance on depth or shading.
Across the works, the body is treated as an indivisible presence rather than a fragmented subject. Even in nude studies, the figure is approached with restraint and clarity, emphasising rhythm, proportion and harmony. His practice reflects a sustained engagement with the human form as a site of continuity, where simplicity becomes a powerful visual and philosophical tool.
Together, the exhibition offers a refined and contemplative exploration of line, form and the enduring presence of the human body.
Why You Should Visit
A focused and elegant exhibition that highlights the power of line in shaping the human form.
For more details please visit Events at The Bandra Store
Places and Memories
Event Date
21 November 2025 – 21 May 2026
Event Venue
Park Hyatt Chennai
Event Organizer
Preeti Garg Gallery
Places and Memories, presented by Preeti Garg Gallery, explores how travel and lived experience shape personal and collective memory. Featuring works by Suparna Mondal and other artists, the exhibition reflects on how fleeting moments such as sounds, scents and encounters are translated into visual form.
Rooted in the idea of movement as both physical and emotional, the works examine how places become archives of experience. Through layered compositions and diverse artistic approaches, the exhibition captures the subtle ways in which memory evolves, resurfaces and reshapes identity over time.
Together, the exhibition offers a contemplative journey through memory, place and perception, inviting viewers to reflect on their own lived experiences.
Why You Should Visit
A reflective exhibition that transforms travel, memory and experience into evocative visual narratives.
For more details please visit Events at The Bandra Store
Light and Legacy: Group Show
Event Date
5 April – 20 April 2025
Event Venue
Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai
Event Organizer
Ashvita’s
Light and Legacy, held at Lalit Kala Akademi, explores the evolution of pre modern art and plein air painting in Madras. The exhibition brings together works that reflect the city’s artistic heritage, capturing its landscapes, culture and historical transitions through diverse visual approaches.
Featuring renowned artists such as K. C. S. Paniker, D. P. Roy Chowdhury and Abanindranath Tagore, the show presents a dialogue between regional and national movements.
Together, the exhibition offers a reflective view of artistic legacy and continuity.
Why You Should Visit
A rare opportunity to experience historic works that shaped modern Indian art.
For more details please visit Events at The Bandra Store
The Imagined Pantheon – Contemporary Painting Show
Event Date
31st March – April 18th 2026
Event Venue
Apparao Galleries / Artworld Sarala’s Art Centre
Event Organizer
Apparao Galleries / Artworld Sarala’s Art Centre
The Imagined Pantheon brings together a contemporary exploration of myth, memory and symbolic imagination through painting. Presented across Apparao Galleries and Artworld Sarala’s Art Centre, the exhibition reflects how artists reinterpret cultural narratives and archetypes within a modern visual language.
Through diverse styles and painterly approaches, the works engage with mythology, identity and personal mythology, creating layered compositions that blur the boundaries between the real and the imagined. The exhibition situates traditional references within contemporary contexts, offering fresh perspectives on enduring themes.
Together, the exhibition unfolds as a reflective and visually rich experience, inviting viewers to engage with evolving interpretations of myth and imagination.
Why You Should Visit
A compelling contemporary painting exhibition that reimagines myth and identity through diverse artistic voices.
For more details please visit Events at The Bandra Store
Government Museum Chennai: Art & Heritage Collections
Event Date
Ongoing
Event Venue
Government Museum, Chennai
Event Organizer
Government Museum Chennai
The Government Museum Chennai houses an extensive collection of traditional and modern Indian art, spanning Tanjore, Rajput, Mughal, Kangra and Deccani schools alongside contemporary works. From mythological narratives and royal portraits to expressive modern paintings and metal sculptures, the collection reflects diverse artistic traditions and evolving visual languages across centuries.
A highlight includes works by Raja Ravi Varma, displayed using advanced lighting techniques that preserve and enhance their visual impact. The museum also features a dedicated Rock and Cave Art Gallery, where immersive displays recreate ancient sites, offering insight into India’s early artistic expressions through sculpture, painting and interactive installations.
Together, the museum offers a comprehensive journey through India’s artistic and cultural history, blending tradition, innovation and technology.
Why You Should Visit
A rich and immersive experience showcasing India’s artistic evolution from ancient traditions to modern expressions.
For more details please visit Events at The Bandra Store
To continue exploring India’s vibrant art scene beyond these exhibitions, we invite you to visit our curated guide to Art galleries in Mumbai, This blog highlights key galleries across the city and helps you stay updated on more current and upcoming exhibitions, events, and creative spaces worth discovering.
Explore it here: https://thebandrastore.com/blog/art-galleries-in-mumbai/