Anish Kapoor's 2026 Blockbuster Year: Hayward Gallery Exhibition and Global Shows

Anish Kapoor, the British-Indian artist known for optical illusions and monumental works, has a major exhibition at London's Hayward Gallery through October 18, 2026. The show features new pieces including 'Ha Makom' (2026), a rocky terrain with a wine-red porous surface, and the visceral 'Ritual Expiation' series (2025–26) of silicone masses dripping paint. Kapoor's studio in southeast London spans 33,000 square feet, where he experiments with materials like wood pulp, fiberglass, and resin to achieve an 'in-between state.' He also pays tribute to Kazimir Malevich with Vantablack works that absorb 99.9% of light, creating optical illusions. Other 2026 exhibitions include shows at the Jewish Museum in New York, SCAD Museum of Art, Palazzo Manfrin in Venice, Lehmbruck Museum in Duisburg, and Serlachius in Mänttä, Finland (through April 4, 2027). Kapoor discusses mortality, spirituality, and the void, referencing Malevich's 'Black Square' and Jackson Pollock's cosmic transformations.