Unstitched: A Celebration of the Saree

It’s 2026, and the Asian Art Museum is hosting its first ever exhibit focused on the sari (aka saree), a unstitched garment 18 feet long and four feet wide. It is draped and lightly pinned to fit each wearer every time it is worn. Both beautiful and practical, the sari has quietly shaped the story of South Asia. It has clothed generations through ancient civilizations, colonial rule, and modern times, and today stands as a global symbol of culture and style.

In Samsung Hall, view the debut of original art on saris by more than 30 of India’s most prestigious contemporary creators, including Seema Kohli, Thota Vaikuntam, and Thota Tharani, and Bay Area artists Shirin Nijhawan, Sheetal Seth and Lara Lakshmi.