The First International Exhibition in Arpita Singh’s Journey to Global Acclaim is a historical Milestone in Indian Art.
The Serpentine North Gallery in London is running a Solo retrospective exhibition titled Remembering, showcasing the powerful and evocative works of Arpita Singh, a renowned Indian Contemporary Artist.
This collection highlights Singh’s remarkable career and her journey into bold oil paintings, delicate watercolours, and intricate ink drawings. Her works explore themes of memory, social realities, and inner reflection, blending colours with symbolic storytelling.
The show opened on 13th March 2025 and will be displayed till 27th July 2025.
Memory, Loss, and Myth in Singh’s Unflinching Canvases
Singh’s distinctive style combines figurative and abstract styles to compose a layered narrative. Singh notes, “I, the woman, stand there as anybody, as everybody.” The paintings dive into the themes of gender, motherhood, and political unrest, all things woman. Visitors to the exhibition at Serpentine North Gallery in London can explore key works such as Devi Pistol Wali and My Lollipop City: Gemini Rising, alongside intimate pieces like A Feminine Tale, a moving series of female nudes painted in the mid-1990s.
Image Courtesy- Architectural Digest India
Image Courtesy- Architectural Digest India
Curated by Tamsin Hong and Liz Stumpf, the exhibition thoughtfully traces Singh’s artistic evolution throughout her mediums — from her early oil paintings to her more recent watercolours and drawings — allowing visitors to see how her visual language has changed over time.
About the Artist Arpita Singh
Image courtesy- India Art Fair
Born in Kolkata in 1937, Arpita Singh is widely recognised as a pioneer of Indian modernism. Her richly layered canvases and emotionally charged narratives reflect both personal memories and shared social experiences often commenting on feminist narratives. Over her six-decade career, Singh’s bold yet introspective approach has earned her widespread acclaim both in India and internationally.
Serpentine North Gallery’s Legacy
To accompany the exhibition, the Serpentine Galleries has published a detailed book on Singh’s career — the most comprehensive to date. Designed by Mark El-khatib studio, the publication includes contributions from Booker Prize-winning author Geetanjali Shree, art historian Geeta Kapur, curator Devika Singh, and artist Nilima Sheikh, offering fresh insights into Singh’s impact on modern and contemporary art.
Image Courtesy- Architectural Digest India
Remembering continues Serpentine’s legacy of championing underrepresented artists, following exhibitions by Faith Ringgold and Barbara Chase-Riboud. A new catalogue will accompany the London art exhibition, celebrating Singh’s lasting influence on global art. This retrospective is part of Serpentine’s exciting 2025 programme, featuring solo exhibitions by Giuseppe Penone and Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, along with the unveiling of the 24th Pavilion.
Feature Image Courtesy- Vadehra Art Gallery
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