“emotions of (BOM)bay", solo exhibition by Swati Goel

Abstract artist Swati Goel presents "emotions of (BOM)bay", her sixth solo exhibition, opening at the India Habitat Centre from 4–8 June 2026 at the Convention Foyer, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. The exhibition will remain open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM.

Exhibition Details:

"emotions of (BOM)bay" by Swati Goel

Venue: India Habitat Centre, Convention Foyer, 

Lodhi Road, New Delhi

Dates: 4–8 June 2026

Time: 10 AM – 8 PM

Through an immersive body of works, Swati explores Bombay not simply as a geographical city, but as an emotional landscape layered with urgency, tenderness, resilience, longing, chaos, and hope. The exhibition captures the pulse of a city that constantly moves forward while quietly holding space for vulnerability and human connection.

“Bombay is not a city that can be understood through maps or monuments alone,” says Swati. “It is felt through its people, its pace, its contradictions, and the strange intimacy that exists within its chaos. I wanted to paint not what Bombay looks like, but what it feels like.”

The works in emotions of (BOM)bay reflect the emotional textures of everyday life in the city — crowded local trains carrying silent stories of ambition and survival, monsoon-soaked streets illuminated by fleeting romance, and the endless sea at Marine Drive acting as a silent witness to dreams, aspirations, heartbreaks, and moments of reflection. Rather than depicting literal imagery, Swati translates these experiences into abstraction through layered textures, expressive movement, and emotionally charged color palettes.

Working primarily with acrylic on canvas and linen, Swati’s practice centers around abstraction, emotion, home, hope, light, and relatability. Her artistic language embraces imperfection, instinct, and vulnerability, allowing each work to evolve organically and speak independently.

Swati’s journey into art began unexpectedly during the COVID lockdown, when she turned to painting during a period marked by uncertainty and emotional isolation. Without any prior formal direction in fine arts or a family background in the field, she gradually built her practice independently. Between 2022 and 2023, she participated in 17 exhibitions across India, including five solo exhibitions within a single year.

Seeking deeper artistic and conceptual growth, Swati pursued the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Painting at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The experience became a defining chapter in her evolution as an artist, encouraging her to challenge conventions and embrace discomfort as part of the creative process.

She has recently completed her MFA in Arts & Humanities from the Royal College of Arts in London and is now based in India, continuing to expand her visual language through emotionally driven abstractions. 

Swati’s previous solo exhibitions include Discovering Myself, Nature’s Calling, Hues of Blues, Layers of Maa, and Reflection of the Mind. Her work has also been exhibited at major art platforms and institutions including the Lalit Kala Akademi, India Art Festival, Kala Ghoda Art Carnival, All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society (AIFACS), and the India International Centre (IIC). 

With emotions of (BOM)bay, Swati Goel invites viewers into an emotional encounter with the city — one where exhaustion and excitement, loneliness and belonging, despair and hope coexist simultaneously. The exhibition becomes not only a reflection of Bombay, but also a mirror to the emotional complexities of contemporary life itself.