Seven Indian Artists to Watch by Jacquelyn Lewis

Source: Artinfo


"Untitled" (2006) Bharti Kher; at Jack Shainman Gallery


"Somnium Genero 04 @ 0530 hrs, Sept 06" T & T; at Nature Morte


"The White Man's Paranoia" (2005) Probir Gupta; at Nature Morte

NEW YORK—ArtInfo spoke to panel of contemporary art experts about the recent boom in the Indian art market. Kent Charungundla of TamarindArt, Peter Nagy of Nature Morte, Claude Simard of Jack Shainman Gallery and Christie’s art expert Veronica Collins also offered their recommendations for Indian artists worth watching—and worth buying.

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Amitava

You might have seen Amitava’s works at auction—he’s one of India’s well-known abstract painters. However, Charugundla advises collectors to get their hands on his paintings now, if they can. “He’s doing phenomenal works,” he said. “And he will continue to increase in value.”

Probir Gupta

The Calcutta-born, New Delhi-based artist’s politically informed paintings and installations have appeared in dozens of galleries both in the United States and abroad. Nature Morte director Peter Nagy says the artist is poised to make an impact on the international scene.

Bharti Kher

Kher got a thumbs-up from three of our experts. Though she was born in London, the artist has been associated with Indian art since moving to the country in 1993. Her photographs and mixed-media pieces address Indian culture and have already garnered attention all over the world. The experts recommend getting them while they’re hot; prices can only go up from here.

Prabhakar Kolte

Kolte, a “senior level” artist, according to Charugundla, hails from Bombay. He is a well-known figure on the Indian contemporary scene, and his layered abstract paintings have turned critics’ and collectors’ heads across the globe—and in the United States. A few of his pieces are being offered at Sotheby’s March 22 auction of modern Indian Art (they are estimated at $8,000 - $50,000), and another work (estimated at $6,000 - $8,000) will be available at Christie’s March 21 sale of modern and contemporary Indian Art.

Kamal Mitra

“His works are totally on the cutting edge,” Charugundla said of Mitra, who is just starting to get noticed in the United States for his portentous acrylic paintings. “You might not have seen him at the auctions yet, but you will definitely see him in the near future,” Charugundla said. Mitra has already received several group shows and awards in his native India.

Mithu Sen

Sen’s creepily beautiful installations, paintings and mixed-media works on paper are worth acquiring if you can, according to Nagy. Although, you’ll have some fierce competition, given that her artworks are increasingly sought-after. The artist, born in West Bengal and based in New Delhi, has exhibited in India, South Korea, Kenya and the United States (including a Bose Pacia site-specific installation last June that inaugurated the gallery’s new Artist Space).

Thukral & Tagra

The up-and-coming duo Jiten Thukral and Sumir Tagra might not be a household name in the United States, but they’re taking the Indian art world by storm with their BosedkDesigns—a collaborative project involving cutting-edge graphic designers, illustrators, filmmakers and writers. Nagy believes the two are bound to leave their mark on the art world. Look for everything from paintings and photographs to ’zines and T-shirts (already a cult hit in India).