Until recently, Mumbai, despite having a thriving community of art lovers, didn’t have many too many art fairs to sate its appetite. Sure there is the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival—which I would argue is more installation- and crafts-focussed than art-centric—and the annual Mumbai Gallery Weekend, but Delhi’s India Art Fair, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and Hyderabad’s Indian Photo Festival are far bigger in scale and reputation. A step towards filling this lacuna was taken last year with the launch of Art Mumbai, which brought together nearly 2,000 artworks from 300 artists and a whopping 53 participating galleries from the world over. Next year, Mumbai will once again take centre stage with the inaugural India Art Fair Contemporary, set to run from November 13-16, 2025. An offshoot of Delhi’s beloved India Art Fair, India Art Fair Contemporary aims to spotlight the wealth of talent in contemporary art and design in India through a curated selection of 50 to 70 exhibitors from Indian, South Asian and international galleries, design studios and institutions.
The decision to focus on contemporary art for India Art Fair Contemporary’s first edition is rooted in Mumbai’s unique position at the crossroads of culture, entertainment and finance. Jaya Asokan, the director of India Art Fair, emphasises this synergy. “As India’s cultural and financial hub, Mumbai is closely aligned with the global contemporary art landscape, making it the perfect setting for this new fair, especially considering the city’s existing ties to both creative communities and international art markets,” she says.
Visitors to India Art Fair Contemporary can expect a rich, immersive experience, with Asokan describing it as a “hub of artistic innovation and cultural exchange” featuring everything from cutting-edge contemporary art and large-scale installations to multimedia works. The fair will also include a dynamic lineup of public programs, such as panel discussions, interactive sessions with artists and performance art, making it accessible to a diverse audience.
The timing for this new fair couldn’t be better, given the current momentum in the Indian art scene, especially an uptick in the interest in contemporary art among young buyers. So while the Delhi edition will continue to celebrate the full spectrum of art—from historical masters to contemporary innovators—India Art Fair Contemporary will focus specifically on new voices, trends and mediums. Asokan, too, believes this is a pivotal moment for such an initiative, noting, “It is an exciting time for the Indian art scene. The market is in a strong position and we welcome its continued expansion.”
With Mumbai becoming a focal point on the country’s art calendar, it is entirely possible that fairs and festivals may jostle for space in an already-crowded city. And sure enough, the inaugural India Art Fair Contemporary, to be held at Jio World Garden, will clash with the third edition of Art Mumbai, which takes place at Mahalaxmi Racecourse—right down to the same dates. That could mean one of two things: opportunity or overdose. Latch on to the chance of catching the same crowds travelling to the city for either event or run the risk of overwhelming visitors with too many visual stimuli. Above all, there is the traffic to consider between the 14 kilometres that separate Jio World Garden and Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Asokan is confident that there is space—and an appetite—for a successful payoff. “Whether they are set against the sunny seascape, housed in heritage buildings or squeezed into the bylanes of suburbs,” she says, “Mumbai’s galleries and art institutions reflect the indefatigable energy of its residents.”
This post will be updated
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