Date – 24th July to 4th September.
Venue – Black Cube Gallery G12A, 2nd Floor, Hauz Khas
Time – Tuesday to Saturday 12PM to 6 PM
Sanya Malik, founder and curator of Black Cube Gallery, presents Objects May Appear Softer… this show will bring together over 21 Indian women artists whose diverse practices span generations, geographies, and mediums—from painting, sculpture, and installation to digital and mixed media and marks a long-anticipated effort by Sanya Malik’s Black Cube to foreground the dynamic and transformative role of women in shaping India’s modern and contemporary art landscape.
Through deeply personal, mythic, ecological, and political explorations, each artist in this exhibition reclaims space by disrupting conventional narratives and expanding our understanding of what constitutes the female gaze. What emerges is not a singular statement, but a multifaceted visual chorus: textured, layered, embodied.
Objects May Appear Softer… is both a celebration and a provocation that centres women artists not as exceptions but as vital agents in the continued unfolding of Indian art. Their worlds are not soft—they are powerful, precise, and profoundly necessary.
The title plays on the phrase “objects in the mirror may appear closer than they are,” gesturing toward perception and its quiet deceptions. What is often seen as “soft”, whether in gesture, material, or identity – is too easily mistaken for fragility. Yet within this presumed delicacy lies rigour, resistance, and remarkable clarity. The works in this exhibition confront that misreading: they are layered, forceful, unafraid to be both tender and exacting. These are not minor expressions but major articulations that are shaped by women who refuse simplification. These works assert that complexity and strength do not always announce themselves loudly, whilst inviting viewers to move beyond the surface, to see with care, to listen to quieter rhythms, and to recognise the force embedded in materiality, gesture, and gaze.
The exhibition will be on view from 24th July to 4th September at Black Cube Gallery.
Artist List:
Pooja Acharya | Manisha Agarwal | Aparna Bidasaria | Poonam Bhatnagar | Pragya Bhargava | Sujata Bajaj | Chaitali Chanda | Kanchan Chander | Susmita Chowbey | Siri Devi Khandavilli | Hansika Mangwani | Shifali Mehra | Nehmat Mongia | Manisha Parekh | Madhvi Parekh | Tarini Sethi | Meena Sansanwal | Sahaya Sharma | Yashika Sugandh | Nilofer Suleman | Hema Upadhyay
About Black Cube Gallery :
Black Cube Gallery is a contemporary art space that challenges conventional hierarchies by bringing together established and emerging artists in a shared dialogue. Founded on the belief that art should exist beyond structured divisions, Black Cube creates a space where different artistic languages interact, where tradition and experimentation coexist, and where critical discourse is extended to all artists, not just the historically recognized. Black Cube launched its first permanent space in Hauz Khas, New Delhi in February 2025. The gallery remains committed to fostering meaningful engagement with contemporary art, offering exhibitions that challenge, provoke, and expand the way we experience visual culture. At its core, Black Cube is more than a gallery—it is a space of exchange, experimentation, and new possibilities for artistic thought and presentation.
Curator/Director
Sanya Malik, founder and director of Black Cube Gallery in New Delhi, has been immersed in the art world from an early age, growing up around renowned Indian artists such as Himmat Shah and Krishen Khanna. Her academic background includes studies in art criticism and curation with her bachelor’s from Central Saint Martins London, and Masters from Royal College of Art, London. Under her leadership, Black Cube challenges traditional gallery norms by offering a platform that bridges the gap between established and emerging artists, aiming to make art more accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.
