RESOURCES: INDIAN AND CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUMS AND FAIRS IN BOSTON

Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and its unique art scene mixes its rich history with a vibrant contemporary presence, resulting in an eclectic list of museums, galleries and nonprofits. There is also a growing Asian arts community, nurtured by local nonprofits celebrating Indian art and culture.

Museum of Fine Arts Boston – 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston: https://www.mfa.org

One of the leading Boston attractions, the Museum of Fine Arts boasts vast holdings of ancient and modern masterpieces, with a dedicated Art of Asia Collection that includes works dating as far back as 4000 BCE. In 2017, the exhibition An Enchanted Land celebrated 100 years of Indian paintings at the MFA, including 17th and 19th century Rajput paintings. Another past exhibition, Bharat Ratna! Jewels of Modern Indian Art, explored the historic achievements of renowned modernist painters including F.N. Souza, M.F. Husain and S.H. Raza.

ICA Boston – 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston: https://www.icaboston.org

Founded as a sister institution to New York’s MoMA, ICA presents cutting-edge art exhibits in Boston, featuring contemporary art across all media including visual arts, performance, installation and video. ICA has promoted pivotal artists Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, Kara Walker and others. Past Indian exhibition highlights include an immersive video installation by Nalini Malani and a large-scale woven map by Reena Saini Kallat.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum – 25 Evans Way, Boston: https://www.gardnermuseum.org

Home to its eponymous founder Isabella Stewart Gardner’s extensive collection, the museum showcases stunning works from the 1900s and beyond, including paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture and rare books. The collection is a testament to the legendary figure of Gardner herself, including multiple portraits of herself by famous artists such as John Singer Sargent and thousands of artworks and objects that she collected on her travels throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Indian Arts Boston – Events held throughout Massachusetts: http://indianartsboston.org

Indian Arts Boston is a non-profit dedicated to fostering Indian arts, performance, literature and cuisine in America. This organization hosts multiple Boston Indian events for the public including the Caleidoscope Annual Indian Film Festival, The CuisinArt Culinary Contest and the Sanskriti Literature Fest, aiming to create nationwide appreciation for Indian artists and culture.