when: 20 June 2026 - 05 October 2026 | venue: Art Gallery of NSW | cost: Starting from: $10 | address: Art Gallery Road, Sydney NSW 2000 | website: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/avatar/ | tickets: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/avatar/
published: 26 Jun 2026, 5 min read
Encounter 15 centuries of art and storytelling from South and Southeast Asia celebrating the many avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu deity who preserves order in the universe, in this captivating exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Avatar, meaning 'descent' in Sanskrit, describes the many forms Vishnu takes to descend from the heavens to restore balance on earth.
In sculpture, painting, textiles and photographs, the exhibition traces the ways artists have envisioned Vishnu's various avatars, including Matsya the fish, Kurma the tortoise, the beloved Krishna, the noble prince Rāma, and Kalki, the future avatar who will bring renewal.
Brimming with tales of heroism, love and devotion, the exhibition presents exceptional historical and contemporary art from renowned collections in Australia, India, Cambodia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
It also includes work by contemporary artists Gitanjali Das, Kalyan Joshi, Jumaadi, Desmond Lazaro, Kalam Patua, Nalini Malani, Pushpamala N, Sumakshi Singh and Satyanarayan Suthar.
Enjoy 2-for-1 tickets to Avatar: Forms of Vishnu on Wednesday nights from 5pm and 10pm during Art After Hours.
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Encounter 15 centuries of art and storytelling from South and Southeast Asia celebrating the many avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu deity who preserves order in the universe, in this captivating exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Avatar, meaning 'descent' in Sanskrit, describes the many forms Vishnu takes to descend from the heavens to restore balance on earth.
In sculpture, painting, textiles and photographs, the exhibition traces the ways artists have envisioned Vishnu's various avatars, including Matsya the fish, Kurma the tortoise, the beloved Krishna, the noble prince Rāma, and Kalki, the future avatar who will bring renewal.
Brimming with tales of heroism, love and devotion, the exhibition presents exceptional historical and contemporary art from renowned collections in Australia, India, Cambodia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
It also includes work by contemporary artists Gitanjali Das, Kalyan Joshi, Jumaadi, Desmond Lazaro, Kalam Patua, Nalini Malani, Pushpamala N, Sumakshi Singh and Satyanarayan Suthar.
Enjoy 2-for-1 tickets to Avatar: Forms of Vishnu on Wednesday nights from 5pm and 10pm during Art After Hours.
Go see Avatar: Forms of Vishnu 2026.
Avatar: Forms of Vishnu 2026 is on 20 June 2026 - 05 October 2026. See start and end times below. Conveniently located in Sydney. Call 1800 679 278 for details. Visit their website at https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/avatar/.
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