Bharti Kher's Sculptures Transform V&A Galleries and Courtyard

Bharti Kher has installed four sculptures at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, weaving contemporary works into the historic sculpture galleries and placing a monumental bronze in the Exhibition Road Courtyard. Inside, Ghost (2024), Animus Mundi (2018), and Warrior with Cloak and Shield (2008) sit among the permanent collection, prompting visitors to draw connections across centuries. Outside, Gaia (2026), a four-meter-high bronze female warrior carrying a house on her head, greets visitors before they enter. The intervention runs from July 20, 2026, to February 27, 2027. Kher, who lives between London and New Delhi, has spent over three decades developing a sculptural language that fuses European and South Asian traditions. Her works explore mythology, womanhood, cultural identity, and transformation. Whitney Kerr-Lewis, Curator of Sculpture 1800–Now at the V&A, stated that Kher's works invite unexpected connections and offer new ways to explore both contemporary sculpture and the museum's historic collections. The installation encourages visitors to move between Kher's sculptures and surrounding historic works, spending more time in the galleries. Kher's awards include Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the ARKEN Art Prize.