Art Exhibition at Art Gallery of New South Wales - Avatar: Forms of Vishnu

Avatar: Forms of Vishnu at Art Gallery of New South Wales 
20 June – 5 October 2026 

This captivating exhibition brings together centuries of art and storytelling from South and Southeast Asia celebrating Vishnu, the Hindu deity who preserves order in the universe.

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, photographs and film, 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 introduces new works created especially for the exhibition by artists Desmond Lazaro, Gitanjali Das, Kalam Patua and Sumakshi Singh.

Book your ticket now and add a unique cultural highlight to your trip to Sydney.

All public areas inside both buildings can be accessed by ramps and lifts, as well as stairs and elevators.

The exhibition is open in Naala Badu, (modern, glass building). Enter the building, and make your way to the entrance of the exhibition on Lower Level Two. 

Bundle with an Australian Art Stories Tour or lunch at Crafted by Matt Moran or MOD Dining for the most immersive experience at Art Gallery of New South Wales. 

Opening Hours: Daily 10.00am - 5.00pm, and Wednesdays until 10pm. 

Travel for good: The Art Gallery of New South Wales is a not-for-profit organisation. Proceeds from tours go towards supporting our aim to make art accessible for all through our ambitious exhibitions and programs

Images: Lotus-clad Radha and Krishna c1700–1710 (detail), Art Gallery of New South Wales; Visitors to Naala Badu at the Art Gallery of New South Wales © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Anna Kucera; Master of the first generation after Manaku and Nainsukh of Guler Vishnu as Matsya, Vishnu's fish avatar c1775, Museum Rietberg, Zurich; Mahesh of Chamba Varāha avatara, the boar incarnation of Vishnu 1East India/Nepal, Figure of Vishnu in the lotus 1100s, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, presented by Mrs Hoey, photo © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford750–75, Museum Rietberg, Zurich