As October ushers India into the season of festive fervour, from Navratri and Durga Puja to Dussehra and Diwali, the new art shows in India are bringing their own celebrations to galleries across the country, marking the month with a vibrant lineup of new exhibitions, bringing together contemporary voices, landmark practices and fresh perspectives. If you’re headed to the British capital this month, don’t miss out on Frieze London, where several Indian galleries, including Experimenter, Akara Modern and Akar Prakar, have artworks on display. Back home, Threshold Art is hosting a retrospective of V Ramesh at Bikaner House, Delhi from 9th October onwards, while Hampi Art Labs has on display Red Rocks, Rivers and Monkeys by internationally acclaimed artists Atul Bhalla and Robert Zhao Renhui till 4th November, which takes a look at the histories of the Tungabhadra Basin. Here’s the lowdown on other shows you should catch this October:
Grip, Hold, Pin at MAP, Bengaluru
Be it kushti or pehelwani, wrestling as a sport in India dates back to ancient times and several Indian epic heroes are known for this skill. Now, a unique photo exhibition looks at this age-old sport and how it has evolved through time through an artistic lens. From images by Jyoti Bhatt, the late Raghu Rai and T.S. Satyan to those by contemporary photographers like Prarthna Singh, Grip, Hold, Pin delves into the inner world of akhada wrestling. The works on display give viewers a glimpse of the preparation, discipline and history of this art form, while also reminding us of our rich cultural heritage in the world of sport.
On view at Infosys Foundation Gallery, MAP, 22, Kasturba Road, Shanthala Nagar, Bengaluru until 1st November 2026
Typecasting: Photographing the Peoples of India 1855–1920 at Alipore Museum, Kolkata
