Rajiv Menon Contemporary, a gallery specializing in South Asian art, has set down permanent roots in Los Angeles. The space opened its doors Feb. 17 with the show “EXHIBITIONISM,” which explores the sometimes-conflicting ideas of privacy and attention.
The opening marks the next chapter for the gallery, founded in 2023 by curator, producer and collector Rajiv Menon with the aim of further establishing and re-contextualizing contemporary South Asian art in the United States. In an announcement for the opening, Menon stated that he hopes that the new home will “serve as a cultural hub in North America for the incredible talent coming out of South Asia and the diaspora, while also bringing art into larger dialogue with the cultural strides being made here by South Asian creatives, especially in Hollywood.” Located at 1311 N. Highland Ave., the gallery is situated down the street from Kohn Gallery, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery and Nonaka-Hill.
The gallery’s inaugural exhibition, on view through March 30, brings together 19 South Asian artists, including Chitra Ganesh, Sunil Gupta, Nadia Waheed, Tarini Sethi and more. Ranging in size and format, the works span photography, painting and fiber arts.
“The artists featured in this exhibition transcend cultural boundaries, addressing the universal and increasingly relevant question of how we relate to privacy and attention,” Menon told ALL ARTS over email. “Each artist uniquely offers insight into their navigation between the public and private, and in doing so, they contribute to an evolving conversation within contemporary art. It’s time we move beyond viewing South Asian art as an ‘other’ and recognize it as part of the global dialogue.”
The opening reception for the gallery drew a crowd of over 400 guests who joined the founder in celebrating the space. In response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, a portion of proceeds from the inaugural exhibition will be donated to SevaSphere and the California Community Foundation.
“I chose to organize ‘EXHIBITIONISM’ around this theme because it’s time to redefine the narrative surrounding South Asian art,” said Menon, who cited a trend of “surging demands for work by Indian artists, signaling a broader recognition of India’s growing influence and relevance in the global art landscape.”
Past exhibitions presented by Rajiv Menon Contemporary have turned an eye on influencer culture, nostalgia and objectification.