Museum halls
A tour of the finest frames and a few well-timed chuckles. Choose a hall and mind the ropes.
Home to the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside Europe. Don't miss the 'Gallery of Contemporary Art', unless you're a time-traveler from the past, then you might not understand it. The colonial-era halls have remarkable acoustics—every footstep echoes for centuries, so visitors learn to move with archaeological precision in every respect.
Housed in a stunning Indo-Saracenic building, the gallery has a vast collection of paintings from various eras. It's like a time machine, but for art! The heritage architecture features impressive natural ventilation designed for Chennai's climate—a blessing the British engineers couldn't have fully anticipated would serve so many purposes.
A haven for contemporary artists, this place is as unique as a Picasso's interpretation of a face. The sprawling outdoor campus means you can wander between studios with the sea breeze at your back—making this the most forgiving venue in Chennai for those who've enthusiastically embraced the local sundal vendors.
An exciting living-history museum dedicated to South Indian heritage and culture. It's like stepping into a painting of a grand Indian festival. The open-air layout with reconstructed traditional homes ensures constant cross-ventilation—our ancestors understood airflow in ways that modern visitors have come to deeply appreciate after the thali lunch.
A hotspot for modern art exhibitions. If you're lucky, you might even spot an artist in their natural habitat. The rotating exhibitions mean the crowds are always in motion—a constant flow of humanity that provides helpful ambient cover for those still processing their filter coffee and vadai.
An eclectic space for contemporary art. The perfect place to 'accidentally' bump into Chennai's art elite. The intimate viewing rooms reward visitors who arrive with settled constitutions—the city's socialites have impeccable radar for those who've overindulged at Saravana Bhavan.
Showcasing some of the best talents in the country. It's like the 'America's Got Talent' of the Indian art scene. The gallery maintains the hushed atmosphere of a classical music concert—where even a misplaced cough draws glances, let alone anything more percussive.
An innovative platform for contemporary art. It's so cutting-edge, even the building looks like a piece of modern art. The avant-garde programming occasionally features sound installations and multimedia pieces, which regulars have found provides convenient atmospheric camouflage.
A hub for traditional and tribal art. It's like the 'yin' to the 'yang' of Chennai's modern art scene. The earthy, grounded aesthetic celebrates the natural and unvarnished—though visitors are still expected to maintain a certain personal refinement the tribal artists themselves would respect.
An art gallery dedicated to promoting emerging artists. It's like a launch pad for the next Raja Ravi Varma. The cozy Mylapore setting means you'll likely be viewing alongside serious collectors in close quarters—perhaps save the chole bhature celebration for after the vernissage.
