Art Mumbai 2024: Fair Highlights and Indian Art Market Insights

After a celebrated debut in November 2023, the second edition of Art Mumbai in 2024 was even busier and bigger — the fair returned to the iconic Mahalaxmi Racecourse with more than 70 notable art galleries, a sculpture garden with more than 20 installations, and a lively program of performances and talks. The racecourse transformed into a global hub of modern and contemporary art for a weekend, boasting a top-notch selection of artwork from South Asia and beyond.

Here are some of the fair’s highlights, and how Art Mumbai’s success signals the continued rise of the Indian art market.

Mumbai’s First Art Fair

Last year, Art Mumbai splashed onto the scene as the city’s very first art fair. This year, its highly praised return has solidified Art Mumbai as one of South Asia’s top art fairs.

While India Art Fair has cultivated a vibrant collecting scene in New Delhi for 15 years, the launch of Art Mumbai marks an exciting step for Mumbai’s status as a cultural center, alongside other recent developments like the new arts space Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC).

Modern Masters & Contemporary Indian Artists

There was a diverse range of artwork on display at the fair, offering something for every collector’s taste and price range. From the works of celebrated Indian masters such as M.F. Husain, Tyeb Mehta and Thota Vaikuntam, to international figures like British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor and even household names like Pablo Picasso, there was no shortage of first-class artwork. The fair also presented works by established contemporary artists like Seema Kohli, and works by young emerging artists for collectors looking to discover new names.

Innovative Features: The Sculpture Walk & Speaker Series

The Sculpture Walk has already become an adored feature of Art Mumbai. A fresh idea for an art fair, the Sculpture Walk (known as the Sculpture Garden the first year) comprised over 20 curated sculptures and interactive installations outside the venue. There was a monumental ‘Devi’ head by Indian artist G. Ravinder Reddy and a signature LOVE sculpture by American artist Robert Indiana, as well as a maze by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) that invited visitors to draw and write on its white walls.

Art Mumbai’s Speaker Series furthers the educational and intellectual goals of the fair. Throughout the weekend, various panel discussions addressed urgent topics like the impact of AI on art, South Asia’s role in the art scene worldwide, and Mumbai’s cultural influence. Speakers included prominent figures like collector and museum-founder Kiran Nadar and auction house president Dadiba Pundole.

The Boom in the Indian Art Market

Art Mumbai 2024 nearly doubled in size compared to its 2023 debut, emphasizing its success and the growing demand for fine art in Mumbai. Of the 71 participating galleries, 62 were based in India and the other 9 hailed from international locations including the USA, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Japan — demonstrating the rising interest both locally and internationally. Not only are Indian art collectors engaging with global trends and institutions, but Indian artists are enjoying increased attention and support from a broader range of collectors.

Beyond the fair itself, Art Mumbai has also introduced the Gateway Program (a reference to the city’s famed Gateway of India landmark). This program organizes events in cities like London and Delhi throughout the year, keeping South Asian art at the forefront of the conversation.

Art Mumbai is a wonderful opportunity to be immersed in the creativity and excellence of Indian artists. We hope the fair and its future editions continue to develop alongside the burgeoning arts community of Mumbai, as well as the growing platform of South Asian art on the global stage.
— Sonia Patwardhan