Attending the India Art Fair this year? Here are 7 artists to watch out for

Kriti Saraswat-Satpathy & Kriti Saraswat-Satpathy

Published on Apr 22, 2022

Fair director Jaya Asokan recommends her top picks at this year’s event that will take place in New Delhi from 28 April to 1 May

Providing a platform to discover modern and contemporary art from across India and South Asia, the India Art Fair (IAF) is a much-awaited annual event that takes place in New Delhi. While the Covid-19 pandemic had put a pause to the programme, after two years it is back as a physical event that will be held at NSIC Exhibition Grounds in the capital city, from 28 April 28 to 1 May, 2022.

In its 13th edition, the IAF is helmed by a new fair director, Jaya Asokan. “The 2022 line-up includes over 70 Indian and international exhibitors, non-profit institutions, museums and festivals, showing the best and most cutting-edge contemporary art alongside works by some of South Asia’s most iconic and established modernists,” she reveals. While there’s plenty to see at the fair, we asked her to pick seven artists whose works one shouldn’t miss. Here’s what Asokan recommends.

Anshuka MahapatraA young Indian printmaker, Anshuka Mahapatra is a Masters student from the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication in Hyderabad, and has designed the massive façade for the fair. She is the recipient of the open call that the IAF issued in collaboration with The Gujral Foundation and Artdemic, to design the biggest canvas at IAF. “The façade will be bursting with poetic phrases in seven Indian languages, evoking the beauty of the everyday,” says Asokan.Image: India Art Fair — **Anshuka Mahapatra**
A young Indian printmaker, Anshuka Mahapatra is a Masters student from the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication in Hyderabad, and has designed the massive façade for the fair. She is the recipient of the open call that the IAF issued in collaboration with The Gujral Foundation and Artdemic, to design the biggest canvas at IAF. “The façade will be bursting with poetic phrases in seven Indian languages, evoking the beauty of the everyday,” says Asokan.
Image: India Art Fair

Jogen ChowdhuryA renowned Indian painter, Jogen Chowdhury has inspired many young artists and is best known for his works in ink, watercolour and pastel. The artist is represented by Gallery Art Exposure, Kolkata, that focuses on talented artists in contemporary times, especially those who are deeply rooted to their culture. At the IAF, a booth full of the iconic artist’s pen and ink drawings with pastels will be displayed in the ‘Focus’ section.Image: India Art Fair — **Jogen Chowdhury**
A renowned Indian painter, Jogen Chowdhury has inspired many young artists and is best known for his works in ink, watercolour and pastel. The artist is represented by Gallery Art Exposure, Kolkata, that focuses on talented artists in contemporary times, especially those who are deeply rooted to their culture. At the IAF, a booth full of the iconic artist’s pen and ink drawings with pastels will be displayed in the ‘Focus’ section.
Image: India Art Fair

Suchitra MattaiA multi-disciplinary artist of Indo-Caribbean descent, Suchitra Mattai’s artistic practice has been shaped by her experience of living in several countries and across cultural contexts. At the IAF, she is represented by Aicon Art—a New York-based gallery serving as a vital platform for modern and contemporary artists from South Asia, Middle East and the diaspora, to realise their vision in an ever-shifting world. “Don’t miss her large-scale installations of vintage saris and other materials that speak about South Asian femininity around the globe,” recommends Asokan.Image: India Art Fair — **Suchitra Mattai**
A multi-disciplinary artist of Indo-Caribbean descent, Suchitra Mattai’s artistic practice has been shaped by her experience of living in several countries and across cultural contexts. At the IAF, she is represented by Aicon Art—a New York-based gallery serving as a vital platform for modern and contemporary artists from South Asia, Middle East and the diaspora, to realise their vision in an ever-shifting world. “Don’t miss her large-scale installations of vintage saris and other materials that speak about South Asian femininity around the globe,” recommends Asokan.

Image: India Art Fair

Narayan SinhaA large metal sculpture made out of truck silencer pipes that represent harmony and balance in the midst of the chaos is what artist Narayan Sinha has to offer at the IAF this year. He is represented by Arts Ananda Trust that was created with the intention of providing funds to develop and promote the country’s creative arts.Image: India Art Fair — **Narayan Sinha**
A large metal sculpture made out of truck silencer pipes that represent harmony and balance in the midst of the chaos is what artist Narayan Sinha has to offer at the IAF this year. He is represented by Arts Ananda Trust that was created with the intention of providing funds to develop and promote the country’s creative arts.
Image: India Art Fair

Faiza HasanA watercolourist, Faiza Hasan is represented by GallerySKE, and is the winner of the BMW ‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission for designing a car wrap for the all-electric BMW iX. The theme for the same is Sustainable Circularity. Hasan’s design titled Suno depicts portraits of people expanding the idea of sustainability with that of community. “The title is a literal urge to listen to the needs of our environment and our communities in bringing about this change,” she says.Image: India Art Fair — **Faiza Hasan**
A watercolourist, Faiza Hasan is represented by GallerySKE, and is the winner of the BMW ‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission for designing a car wrap for the all-electric BMW iX. The theme for the same is Sustainable Circularity. Hasan’s design titled *Suno* depicts portraits of people expanding the idea of sustainability with that of community. “The title is a literal urge to listen to the needs of our environment and our communities in bringing about this change,” she says.
Image: India Art Fair

Amber HammadA feminist photographer, Amber Hammad uses imagery from pop culture to create vibrant kaleidoscopic photographs. She is represented by Wonderwall, India's first e-commerce website dedicated to fine art photography which aims to be a platform that will showcase established as well as upcoming photographers. It is dedicated to making photography an accessible form of art to the larger public. Born and raised in Pakistan, Hammad is a practising visual artist and researcher living in Sydney.Image: India Art Fair — **Amber Hammad**
A feminist photographer, Amber Hammad uses imagery from pop culture to create vibrant kaleidoscopic photographs. She is represented by Wonderwall, India's first e-commerce website dedicated to fine art photography which aims to be a platform that will showcase established as well as upcoming photographers. It is dedicated to making photography an accessible form of art to the larger public. Born and raised in Pakistan, Hammad is a practising visual artist and researcher living in Sydney.
Image: India Art Fair

Ankon MitraAnkon Mitra defines himself as an architect by training and an artist by temperament, with a keen interest in the geometry and mathematics of trees, flowers, hills and coastlines. He is represented by Gallery Art Positive at the IAF that focuses on showcasing seminal exhibitions of senior contemporary artists, simultaneously promoting young talent from India. Mitra is showcasing a large-scale, origami-inspired suspended sculpture.Image: India Art Fair — **Ankon Mitra**
Ankon Mitra defines himself as an architect by training and an artist by temperament, with a keen interest in the geometry and mathematics of trees, flowers, hills and coastlines. He is represented by Gallery Art Positive at the IAF that focuses on showcasing seminal exhibitions of senior contemporary artists, simultaneously promoting young talent from India. Mitra is showcasing a large-scale, origami-inspired suspended sculpture.
Image: India Art Fair

Also Read: Did you know art in your home could release happy hormones?

Also Read: How to start investing in art

Also Read: A quick guide to NFT art and how to invest in it

Attending the India Art Fair this year? Here are 7 artists to watch out for

Fair director Jaya Asokan recommends her top picks at this year’s event that will take place in New Delhi from 28 April to 1 May

Read Next

Subscribe for More