RESOURCES: LOCAL INDIAN AND CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUMS, GALLERIES AND NONPROFITS
In the United States, especially in urban centers like New York, Seattle and Washington, DC, we are fortunate to have many opportunities to engage with contemporary and tribal Indian art through local Indian art galleries, museums and other cultural institutions. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, several museums hold impressive permanent collections of Indian art, while numerous galleries and nonprofits frequently organize exhibitions of leading contemporary Indian artists. Laasya Art has recently collaborated with some of these institutions, including Pacific Art League, Art Forum and SACHI, to further our mission of connecting Indian artists to our community.
Art Museums and Galleries in the Bay Area: Places to Visit for Art Lovers
Art Forum – Events held throughout the Bay Area: https://www.artforumsf.org
Art Forum is a nonprofit that champions visual, literary and performing arts from South Asia and its diaspora. Its program has been instrumental in bringing Indian artists like dancer Dr. Mallika Sarabhai and writer Amish Tripathi to the Bay Area. Each year, Art Forum also presents one of the most important Indian art events in California — the South Asian Literature and Arts Festival, which features panel discussions, poetry readings and exhibitions with leading authors, artists and filmmakers from the subcontinent.
Asian Art Museum – 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco: http://www.asianart.org
Located in San Francisco, the Asian Art Museum boasts one of the most comprehensive Asian art collections in the world, with accompanying art events and educational tours organized throughout the year. Past exhibitions have focused on the traditional Indian art form of Mithila painting and on depictions of dance in Indian art. For upcoming exhibitions on Indian art in the Bay Area, check the Asian Art Museum’s calendar.
Cantor Art Museum – 328 Lomita Drive, Stanford: https://museum.stanford.edu
The Cantor Art Museum at Stanford University presents a dynamic series of rotating exhibitions, in addition to free guided tours several days of the week, a family program, lectures, performances and special events. The museum also holds an extensive Asian art collection, featuring Indian art from ancient times through the twentieth century. It is a “must see” stop on any tour of Indian art in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pacific Art League – 668 Ramona Street, Palo Alto: https://www.pacificartleague.org
A highly reputed institution that has operated in downtown Palo Alto for almost a century, PAL offers a variety of art classes, events and exhibitions. The “First Friday” opening receptions, which showcase new works every month, are very popular. In 2019, Laasya Art collaborated with PAL to host an exhibition of contemporary Indian art.
Palo Alto Art Center – 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Community-Services/Arts-Sciences/Palo-Alto-Art-Center
Located in Palo Alto, the art center offers a variety of art classes for all age groups, alongside exhibitions and events throughout the year. The exhibitions spotlight a diverse roster of both California-based and international artists, providing a fantastic opportunity to interact with contemporary art on the local level.
Society for Art and Cultural Heritage of India (SACHI) – Events held throughout the Bay Area: https://sachi.org
SACHI is a vibrant nonprofit that champions Indian art and culture. With a vision to impart creative learning, SACHI hosts events all over the Bay Area to promote education and appreciation for the expansive landscape of Indian art, culture and heritage.
San Jose Museum of Art – 110 South Market Street, San Jose: https://sjmusart.org
Located in downtown San Jose, this California art museum reflects the diverse cultures and energetic spirit of Silicon Valley. Past highlights of South Asian art include a solo exhibition of Indian artist and sculptor Rina Banerjee and a live performance of classical Indian dance.
Stanford Center for South Asia (CSA) – 615 Crothers Way, Stanford: https://southasia.stanford.edu
CSA is the central forum at Stanford University for the study of South Asia, which convenes many lectures and conferences that often invite artists from India to participate. For most of the academic year, a guest speaker visits every Thursday at noon. This is free and open to the public.
Silicon Valley Open Studios – Studios located throughout the Bay Area: https://svos.org
Each spring, Silicon Valley Open Studios brings Bay Area artists and art enthusiasts together. Hundreds of local artists participate, inviting guests into their studios for an intimate look at their work and creative process in many different mediums, including painting, sculpture, woodworking, textile, jewelry, photography and more.
RESOURCES: INDIAN AND CONTEMPORARY ART RESOURCES IN THE UNITED STATES
For our clients, we have put together a list of resources for experiencing and learning about art in other cities in the United States.