Kiran Nadar Museum of Art

Kiran Nadar Museum of Art is significant as India’s first private museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art from India and South Asia, founded in 2010 by collector Kiran Nadar. Its large collection, research-led exhibitions, and educational programmes make it a key institution in New Delhi’s contemporary art ecosystem.

At Kiran Nadar Museum of Art visitors encounter major works of 20th-century Indian art, including modernist painters and post-Independence movements, alongside contemporary practices in diverse media. The collection and exhibitions also highlight artists from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the South Asian diaspora, as well as selected classical, folk, and tribal artworks.

Kiran Nadar (born 1951) is an Indian art collector, philanthropist, and founder-chairperson of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in New Delhi. She is also a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation and is widely recognised for advancing modern and contemporary Indian art at both national and international levels. You can read an interview between Anna Dickie and Kiran Nadar here.

Kiran Nadar began collecting art in the late 1980s, initially buying works to furnish her home before developing a sustained passion for Indian modern and contemporary art. As her collection grew into hundreds of works and outgrew domestic and office spaces, she turned towards building a museum rather than keeping important artworks in storage. This led to the formation of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. In an interview with Anna Dickie, Kiran Nadar describes her passion for collecting work, discussing why she is drawn to artists such as Nasreen Mohamedi.

Kiran Nadar founded the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in 2010 to share her collection with the wider public and address the lack of institutional platforms for modern and contemporary art in India. She envisioned a private, not-for-profit museum that could promote Indian and South Asian art, support curatorial research, and make museums part of everyday cultural life in New Delhi. You can read more about the collector in her interview on Ocula here.

Kiran Nadar is known as one of India’s most influential art collectors, with a major collection of modern and contemporary South Asian art that underpins KNMA’s exhibitions. She is recognised for strategic acquisitions of landmark works, international loans, and long-term support for artists, as well as for positioning Indian art within a global museum and biennial circuit.

Kiran Nadar Museum of Art operates two main museum sites in India’s National Capital Region: one in Saket, South Delhi, and another in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The Saket museum sits within the Select Citywalk district, while the Noida space occupies a dedicated museum complex in Sector 126.

The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Delhi generally opens from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. The museum is usually closed on Mondays and may adjust hours or access on select national holidays, so visitors should check the latest information on the official KNMA website before their visit.

General entry to KNMA is often free of charge, particularly for core collection galleries and many exhibitions. However, certain special exhibitions, events, or programmes may require advance registration or tickets, and it is advisable to consult the museum’s website for current ticketing details.