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Making the Modern: Tracing the Evolution of Indian Modern Art

Presented by Raza Foundation and Progressive Art Gallery
Curated by Yashodhara Dalmia
Venue: Shridharani Art Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
Dates: 18–26 October 2026

A man standing next to a colorful abstract painting featuring red, orange, and blue tones, displayed in an art gallery.

Making the Modern, a group exhibition presented by Raza Foundation and Progressive Art Gallery and curated by art historian Yashodhara Dalmia, brings together approximately 60 artists at Shridharani Art Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, from 18 to 26 October 2026. The exhibition offers a sweeping overview of Indian modern art, tracing its evolution through the diverse artistic visions, experiments, and expressions that have shaped the country’s modern artistic identity.

Two framed paintings and a sculpture displayed in an art gallery. The left painting depicts figures near a red door under a tree, while the right painting features colorful abstract human figures. A dark sculpture stands in front of them.
Abstract painting featuring swirling shapes and vibrant colors such as red, orange, yellow, and green, framed simply against a white wall.
Ambadas

Featuring celebrated masters and significant voices from different generations, the exhibition includes works by M. F. Husain, S. H. Raza, V. S. Gaitonde, Akbar Padamsee, Krishen Khanna, Arpita Singh, J. Swaminathan, Raja Ravi Varma, Rabindranath Tagore, Abanindranath Tagore, N. S. Bendre, M. A. Mahboob, Ram Kumar, K. S. Radhakrishnan, Chintamoni Kar, Meera Mukherjee, Ambadas, Manjit Bawa, Bhupen Khakhar, and others.

An art gallery featuring two framed paintings on the wall, one depicting a person wearing traditional attire and the other showing a woman in a yellow dress holding a child. In the foreground, a sculptural artwork is displayed on a wooden pedestal.
Raja RAvi Verma, B Prabha and Meera Mukharjee
A blurred abstract painting featuring soft hues of cream, gray, and hints of black and red, framed in black, hanging on a yellow wall.
Gaitonde

Through paintings, drawings, and sculptures, Making the Modern presents a broad perspective on the development of Indian art, highlighting the changing approaches to form, colour, material, figuration, and abstraction that have defined its modernist journey. The works reflect the complex relationship between India’s cultural heritage and its engagement with modern artistic ideas, revealing how artists have reinterpreted tradition while forging new visual languages.

Three framed artworks displayed on a wall in a gallery. The left artwork features a colorful interior scene with a window and potted plant. The middle piece is a textured white artwork with a minimalist design. The right artwork depicts a sketch of a face with expressive features.
Bupen Khakkhr, Zarina Hashmi and Akbar Padamsse
Two framed paintings on a yellow wall; the left features a geometric pattern with vibrant colors and a central blue circle, while the right depicts a stylized portrait of a woman with distinctive features and accessories.
SH Raza And FN Suza

From the expressive power of figurative painting to the contemplative depth of abstraction, and from explorations of identity and society to innovative sculptural practices, the exhibition brings together a remarkable range of artistic approaches. The diversity of works underscores the fact that Indian modernism is not a single, unified movement but an evolving conversation shaped by individual imagination, historical circumstances, and changing cultural sensibilities.

An abstract bronze sculpture featuring smooth curves and rounded forms, displayed on a wooden table with a neutral background.
Chintamani kar

By bringing together artists whose practices have contributed significantly to the history of Indian art, Making the Modern invites viewers to revisit the ideas, movements, and creative transformations that have shaped modern artistic expression in India. The exhibition offers both a historical perspective and an opportunity to appreciate the continuing relevance of these artists in contemporary art discourse.

A painted scene depicting a group of people seated and engaged in discussion, with one person standing and gesturing. The figures are dressed in traditional attire and encompass a range of expressions and postures.
N S Bendre

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