India Art Fair - History

History

India Art Fair is the biggest fair of modern and contemporary Indian art in the world. Its first three editions attracted over 170,000 visitors and its fourth edition held in 2012 canvassed 98 exhibitors from 20 countries. Over the years the fair has mainly showcased Indian modernists (including Bombay Progressive Artists' Group), Indian diaspora artists such as Anish Kapoor, contemporary Indian art, international artists and art from the subcontinent.

Falling in the tradition of the Venice Biennale and other global platforms for art exhibition and sale, Neha Kirpal, Founder and Director of India Art Fair realized the need for a similar platform in India to respond to the global interest in Indian art. This led to the first ever India Art Summit (IAS) in 2008. It was patronized by prominent Indian artists like Anjolie Ela Menon, S H Raza, Krishen Khanna and Keshav Malik. Phillip Hoffman, chief executive of The Fine Art Fund Group from United Kingdom declared they were raising $25 million for an Indian Fine Art Fund. Since then it has been happening every year with the exception of 2010. Neha Kirpal, the current owner of the India Art Fair divested 49 percent of its stake in early 2011 to two stakeholders, Sandy Angus and Will Ramsay, co-founders of the Hong Kong Art Fair, to create a larger network. In 2009 the highlight of the fair was a display of Pablo Picasso's works, exhibited by Beck & Eggeling, a German gallery. The same year Lisson Gallery brought diaspora artist Anish Kapoor's sculptures to India for the first time at the art fair.