Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 – Now
19 September 2026 – 31 January 2027
This major survey exhibition will reveal Sunil Gupta’s (b.1953, New Delhi) pioneering contribution to photography over five decades.
Intimate, subversive and often beautiful, Gupta’s work has been instrumental in raising awareness around the fight for queer rights internationally, particularly in India and the UK, laying bare the tensions between tradition and modernity, and public and private spheres. Life with a Camera will feature more than 130 works, spanning street photography, portraits, and commissioned and personal projects, reflecting a life of migrations between Delhi, Montreal, New York and his longstanding home in London.
Gupta’s love for family, friends and partners, and his belief that everyone has the right to lead full and joyful lives – in which identity and sexuality can be celebrated without fear – shines throughout his work. Highlight series will include Friends and Lovers (1970s), documenting Gupta’s social life as a young man in Montreal; Christopher Street (1976), capturing New York’s queer community after the Stonewall riots; Mr Malhotra’s Party (2007-2012), which covers a period of intense lobbying to change anti-gay laws in India; and Dissent and Desire (with Charan Singh, 2015), a series chronicling contemporary LGBTQ+ life in Delhi.
Exhibition Events
Exhibition Opening: Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 - Now
Join us to celebrate the opening of our latest exhibition Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 - Now. Explore the exhibition after hours and enjoy a drink with friends at our pay bar.
In Conversation: Sunil Gupta and Hal Fischer
Join exhibition artist Sunil Gupta and photographer Hal Fischer for an evening exploring queer photography. The conversation will be chaired by art historian Theo Gordon.
LATE at Kettle's Yard
Join us at Kettle’s Yard for an evening of art, talks, music and making, inspired by our exhibition Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 – Now.
In Conversation: Sunil Gupta and Charan Singh
Join us in the Kettle's Yard house for an evening in conversation with exhibition artist Sunil Gupta and his long term collaborator Charan Singh, chaired by Kettle's Yard Director Andrew Nairne.
Exhibition Tours
Exhibition Tour: Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 – Today
Join us for an exhibition tour with Kettle's Yard Director and exhibition curator Andrew Nairne, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes insight into Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 – Today.
This event is free with an exhibition ticket. Book your ticket to the exhibition here.
Exhibition Tour: Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 – Today
Join us for an exhibition tour with Assistant Curator Meg Breckell, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes insight into Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 – Today.
This event is free with an exhibition ticket. Book your ticket to the exhibition here.
Exhibition Tour: Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 – Today
Join us for an exhibition tour with Kettle's Yard Assistant Director Susie Biller, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes insight into Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 – Today.
This event is free with an exhibition ticket. Book your ticket to the exhibition here.
Exhibition Tour: Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 – Today
Join us for an exhibition tour with Curator & Exhibition Manager Guy Haywood, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes insight into Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera, 1970 – Today.
This event is free with an exhibition ticket.
Gallery
This exhibition has been kindly supported by
Principal Supporter
Will Palley
Exhibition Sponsors
Vadehra Art Gallery
Matèria (Rome)
Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera Exhibition Circle
Dr Carol Atack & Alex van Someren
Emma Jane Davis
Sabine Jaccaud
Payal & Anurag Khanna
Carlos & Francesca Pinto
Durjoy Rahman
Ali Smith & Sarah Wood
Russell Tovey
Tamsin & Stewart Wilkinson
Access
- The galleries, where exhibitions are shown, and all areas of the Clore Learning Studio (level -1), the Research Space (level 1) and the Ede Room (level 2) are fully accessible.
- We have wheelchair accessible toilets on the lower ground (level -1), ground and first floor (level 1).
- There is a lift giving access to all floors located past the galleries, just beside the Clore Learning Studio on the ground floor.
- Kettle’s Yard welcomes assistance and service dogs in all areas.
- We have large-print versions of the wall text available.
- We can lend visitors small folding seats for taking around exhibitions or using at non-seated events. Please ask a Visitor Assistant for help finding a seat.
- There is an Audio Described Tour of this exhibition taking place on 24 November. Click here to find out more and book your place.