Check out this piece Dr. Ashok Bardhan (one of our winter quarter speakers) wrote that just came out in Yale Global.  Click HERE.

Submitted By: Andria Greenlee

In a country where the average annual household income amounts to a mere $820 dollars, it is hard to believe that the demand for expensive, contemporary Indian art has never been so high. According to this article from the New York Times, the Indian art world is exploding, with prices that have increased tenfold since 2002. Artwork by India’s hottest contemporary artists such as Atul Dodiya and Subodh Gupta are being snatched up by local and international art collectors for hundreds of thousands of dollars, often exceeding price tags of Western counterparts.

As Indian art is gaining popularity on the international art scene, galleries in Mumbai and New Delhi are springing up everywhere. International exposure has picked up as many high end galleries and renowned museums in New York, Paris, and Switzerland have been showing Indian art. Dealers and curators from all over the world are heading to India to search for new talent and pick up trendy pieces for their customers. Interestingly, a large chunk of the customer base for this art is nonresident Indians who have made their fortunes abroad and wish to invest in a piece of art that represents their culture and heritage.

Despite the millions of dollars pouring into the art world, it is mostly the gallery owners and artists that are reaping the benefits. India falls far behind most countries in terms of art schooling and museums, and most popular Indian artists have had to go abroad to study their craft. Without resources available at home, how will Indian art evolve into its own style and genre? In addition, how is India going to really solidify their standing as an artistic society without investing in museums that enable the majority of the poorer Indian population to access these Indian masterpieces? If India really wants to pump up their credibility in the art industry the next step is for the government to recognize the need for proper museums to preserve the works of today for generations of artists and Indians to come.

Check out this Indian Art website to see some of the beautiful Indian works of art for yourself: