In Strong Economy, India Art Fair Boasts Biggest Edition Yet

The Reserve Bank of India expects India's GDP to grow 7% in 2024, significantly faster than the world's largest art markets.

India Art Fair will present 108 exhibitors and a new design section when it returns to the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi from 1 to 4 February.

'We are proud to be able to host the wide spectrum of creativity in the region, from the most established artists and designers to the emerging stars of tomorrow,' said Jaya Asokan, Fair Director of India Art Fair.

India's art market is tiny by global standards, with total sales valued at U.S. $144.3 million in 2023 compared to $30.2 billion in the world's largest market, the United States. But it is growing quickly, up from $106 million in 2020–21, according to the State of the Indian Art Market Report FY23 by Grant Thornton Bharat and Indian Art Investor.

And art dealers in India have favourable economic winds at their back. The Reserve Bank of India is projecting real GDP growth of 7% for the country in 2023–24. That's leagues ahead of the 2024 outlook for China (4.6%), the United States (2.35%), and the United Kingdom (0.7%).

For the fair's 15th edition, Gauri Gill will show at Vadehra Art Gallery, Rana Begum at Jhaveri Contemporary, Dayanita Singh at Nature Morte, and Ayesha Sultana at Experimenter.

Among the 12 international galleries taking part, neugerriemschneider will show Olafur Eliasson, Galleria Continua will show Anish Kapoor, and Saskia Fernando Gallery will show Firi Rahman.

The fair's talks programme includes contributions from artists Anita Dube, Barthélémy Toguo, and Jitish Kallat, as well as museum directors Klaus Biesenbach of Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie and Michael Govan of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

The fair also features sections devoted to performance art, outdoor art projects, and digital art.

'Our programme of commissions and projects is our most ambitious yet and we are proud to have such an illustrious group of experts taking part in our talks programme and workshops,' Asokan said.

'This year, more than any other, we will see the real power and potential of South Asia at India Art Fair,' she added. —[O]