Where to see great art in India without spending a single rupee

Art does not always require a gallery ticket or a collector’s budget. Across the country, there are spaces where you can walk in, look around, and spend time with art simply because it is there. Some are purpose-built cultural spaces, while others have turned streets, heritage buildings, and even fashion stores into unexpected art destinations.

If you are looking for something to do that involves a little more culture and a little less scrolling, these are worth adding to your list. Keep an eye on the dates, call ahead where needed, and give yourself enough time to actually look around. After all, free art is one of the nicest ways to spend an afternoon (or an evening).

The Bombay Flora Chronicle

After a 12-year return to the exhibition circuit, artist Deepak Shinde presents The Bombay Flora Chronicle, curated by Sumesh Sharma. The show is his first solo exhibition at a private gallery and brings together a new body of mixed-media works from the next chapter of his six-decade practice. His perspective is rooted in Bombay, with the city viewed from the edge of a forest and nature constantly entering the frame. At the centre of the exhibition is the idea of coexistence, a question that has stayed with Shinde throughout his artistic journey.

When: August 13 to September 3
Where: Gallery Art & Soul, Mumbai

Public art at NMACC

The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre has become one of Mumbai's most recognisable cultural addresses, and you do not always need a ticket to experience its art. Its public spaces feature changing installations and works from its public art programme, allowing visitors to check out large-scale pieces while exploring the centre. The Art House itself is dedicated to Indian and international art, with exhibitions, installations, and workshops across its four floors, although individual exhibitions can have separate entry requirements. For a quick art fix, the public-facing installations are an easy place to start. It also makes for a particularly good stop if you are already around Bandra Kurla Complex.

When: All year round
Where: NMACC, Mumbai

Mubarak Baug

Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla's new flagship is an interesting addition to Mumbai's growing mix of fashion and art spaces. Mubarak Baug brings the designers' love of Indian craft into a heritage setting. The duo's work is deeply connected to traditional techniques and hand embroidery, so the store becomes an extension of that visual language. Expect an environment where fashion, interiors, craftsmanship, and Indian design overlap. Even if you are simply there to look, the setting makes this a worthwhile South Mumbai stop for anyone who enjoys beautifully made things.

When: Opens August 12
Where: Framjee Cawasjee Institute, Mumbai

Sabyasachi flagship store

Sabyasachi's flagship store in Mumbai feels closer to a collector's cabinet than a conventional fashion store. Set near the iconic Horniman Circle, the space brings together couture, jewellery, antiques, furniture, and decorative objects, all under one roof. The interiors are filled with pieces such as vintage furniture, Persian rugs, porcelain, Tanjore paintings, and intricate inlay work, creating a layered visual world around the designer's collections. You can visit simply to take in the interiors and the curated collection of art and objects.

When: All year round, 11 am to 7 pm
Where: ICP Fort Heritage, Mumbai

The Haat of Art

The Haat of Art brings together artists working across contemporary, abstract, traditional, and experimental styles. The exhibition is designed as a large platform for artists from different backgrounds, including emerging practitioners, established artists, specially-abled artists, and young artists. Alongside artworks, visitors can expect live painting sessions, workshops, sculptures, mixed-media works, and opportunities to interact with artists. 

When: August 26 to August 30
Where: Bharat Mandapam, ITPO, New Delhi

Harmony: A Celebration of Nature Through Art

If nature is your favourite subject in art, this group exhibition should be on your radar. Harmony: A Celebration of Nature Through Art brings together artists exploring the relationship between the natural world and creative expression, with works centred on landscapes, flora, fauna, and our changing relationship with nature. The free-entry exhibition definitely qualifies as a fun and easy addition to a weekend in the capital.

When: August 27 to August 31
Where: Open Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

Abandoned

Abandoned is a solo exhibition of the last body of work by sculptor and artist Latika Katt, who passed away in 2025. At the centre of the exhibition is a group of new sculptures shown together in a single courtyard. Each begins as a bronze, cast from a wax modelled by the artist, then mounted within larger stones, as a gem might be set into a gold or silver mount, or a relic into its reliquary. 

When: July 28 to September 12
Where: Threshold Art Gallery, C-221, Sarvodaya Enclave, New Delhi

Lodhi Art District

For art that you can see while simply walking through the city, head to Lodhi Colony. Created through the St+art India Foundation's public art initiative, Lodhi Art District transformed the walls of the neighbourhood into an open-air gallery featuring large murals by artists from India and around the world. The works cover everything from identity and feminism to climate change, culture, and everyday life, giving the quiet residential streets a very different energy. It is India's first open-air art district and remains completely free to explore. Go during the day, walk slowly through the lanes, and let the murals guide the route.

When: All year round
Where: Lodhi Colony, New Delhi

Lead image: Getty Images

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