The God of Small Things
Queensland Art Gallery
Updated: Oct 07, 2025
The God of Small Things is a world-leading conservation project and free exhibition showcasing a collection of artworks by iconic Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma’s (1848–1906) at Queensland Art Gallery from September 20, 2025 to October 5, 2026
The exhibition features a stunning collection of Raja Ravi Varma’s beautiful, embellished works. Ravi Varma was a renowned Indian artist whose work gave vivid form to Hindu gods and goddesses, aristocrats and maharajahs, as well as scenes from everyday life.
His works opened access to images of the deities to people across the world at a time when temples were reserved for the elite.
'The God of Small Things: Faith and Popular Culture' draws its title from Arundhati Roy's evocative Booker prize-winning novel to explore the omnipresence of faith in the mundane and extraordinary alike. Don’t miss it!
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Image captions top to bottom:
G V Venkatesh Rao, India / Ravi Varma Press, Malavli-Lonavla, India / Adi Laxmi printed 1894–1930 / Purchased 2024 with funds from the Henry and Amanda Bartlett Trust through the QAGOMA Foundation / Collection: QAGOMA
Raja Ravi Varma / Ravi Varma Press, Karla-Lonavla, India / Sheshnarayan printed 1894–1930 / Purchased 2024 with funds from the Henry and Amanda Bartlett Trust through the QAGOMA Foundation / Collection: QAGOMA
Raja Ravi Varma, India 1848–1906 / Ravi Varma Press, Karla-Lonavla, India / Vishnu-Garud Wahan printed 1894–1930 / / Purchased 2024 with funds from the Henry and Amanda Bartlett Trust through the QAGOMA Foundation / Collection: QAGOMA
The God of Small Things
Queensland Art Gallery
Stanley Place
South Brisbane
Sep 20 - Oct 5, 2026
Free
