Preeminent collections of Indian art

A wide variety of wonderful works displayed at Prestigious museums worldwide reveal the way artists from different time periods have contributed to the development of an inimitable Indian art idiom and form, laying the foundation for modern visual culture in a truly global context.

In affirmation of the rising stature of Indian art on the international scene, The San Diego Museum of Art organized a groundbreaking exhibit in collaboration with the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in 2008, to survey the expansive repertoire of artist Nandalal Bose, outside of Asia for the first time. ‘Rhythms of India ‘featured nearly 100 of his finest paintings, executed in a variety of media and styles.

On the other hand, The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) houses preeminent collections of world art, including one of the most encyclopedic collections of Indian art in the US. It has an extensive holding that comprises paintings, sculptures and decorative objects dating from the 3rd millennium B.C. to the 21st century. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, who introduced ancient Indian art to the West, compiled much of the Southern Asian collection.

Stretching its rich collection to the present era, the museum is hosting ‘Bharat Ratna’ (Jewel of India), drawn from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Rajiv Jahangir Chaudhri. This is an outstanding body of works by India’s most celebrated modern painters, including luminaries of post-Independence era like Souza, Husain, and Raza, who founded the Progressive Artists Group (PAG), an important artistic avant-garde at defining transitional moment in India’s art history.

These art works reflect the real India, traversing pre-conceived notions and leading to a greater understanding of the depth and diversity of the country’s rich culture, new-found spirit and dynamic way of living, which is unique, yet universal even in its Indianness.