Indian art boom inspires bigger canvas for galleries

Their numbers are growing slowly, even as India lags in private museums

The recent India Art Fair in New Delhi generated greater in­t­erest than before in local contemporary artists among a growing cohort of Indian collectors, including millennials. But growth in Indian art is not restricted to that alone.
 

This year saw 91 exhibitors, a much higher number than 63 in the previous edition — indicating a flourishing market.

While live auction sales we­re largely suspended during Q2 of 2020 due to Covid-19 precautions, global fine art auctioneer Christie’s says online-only sales were up 262 per cent in 2020 to $311 million), marking a record total for the channel.

In 2021, online