'More than 50% of Sales come Mumbai's Collectors': Delhi-based Art Incept on Presenting Exhibition in Mumbai

One of the reasons for Mumbai to come alive during November, at least for the last two years, is, undoubtedly, the art exhibitions brought in through Art Mumbai. In this year's edition, Gayatri Singh, Director of Art Incept - a gallery based in Delhi - has also debuted with a group exhibition of 11 artists, including Badush Babu, Bedamati Majhi, Debajit R Paul, Jit Chowdhury, Kishwar Kiani, Pankaj Chauhan, Parul Sharma, Ram Dongre, Rinku Choudhary, Sanal PT, and Sunil Yadav aiming to present the emerging South Asian art and the artists.

Speaking ahead of the exhibition at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Singh highlights why the purpose has been to provide a platform for the emerging voices. Edited excerpts from the interview:

You have considered the work of young and emerging artists, mostly, for this exhibition; was it a thoughtful decision behind the curation?

Absolutely. At Art Incept, our purpose and commitment have always been to support, mentor, and champion emerging artists. Our curatorial decisions naturally extend from this ethos. We also run the Inception Grant, which provides both mentorship and financial support to young practitioners, enabling them to push their practice forward with confidence.

Choosing to focus on emerging artists for this exhibition is therefore entirely intentional. While it can be financially challenging for early-career artists to participate in major fairs like Art Mumbai, we believe their voices deserve visibility. Their works not only reflect the evolving pulse of contemporary India but also invite engagement from young collectors—helping spark new relationships and the beginning of meaningful collecting journeys.

From Thiruvananthapuram and Bhubaneswar to Tripura and Bhopal, the majority of them belong to the T2 cities; was this decision also thoughtful? And, how do you think this reflects the varied experiences and unheard stories in a metropolitan like Mumbai?

Yes, this was an intentional curatorial choice. We actively seek voices from across the country, especially from regions and cities that are often underrepresented in mainstream art circuits. These artists bring with them lived experiences, cultural memory, and visual languages that reflect the pulse of India. 

Bringing these narratives to a city like Mumbai creates a powerful shift. In metros, we often lose touch with the diverse, nuanced, and sometimes uncomfortable truths that shape the larger fabric of the country. The presence of these artists offers audiences not just a reminder of that fabric, but also a sense of freshness, honesty, and relief—introducing stories that feel both grounding and revelatory. Their perspectives broaden the dialogue, inviting viewers to engage beyond the familiar metropolitan lens.

What has been the highlight of the design in this with Prima Kurien as a collaborator?

Prima spent time with each artist, understanding their visual language, intention, and the emotional tenor of their work. The highlight of the design is the way she has translated these individual practices into a cohesive spatial experience for the fair. Her sensitivity to scale, colour, and rhythm has allowed the works to breathe while still speaking to one another.

This is Art Incept's debut edition in Mumbai; did you, in any capacity, have to think differently or consider any other factor for that?

Being in Mumbai for the first time was, for us, a meaningful learning experience. Mumbai has always been one of the most important markets for Art Incept—we often find that more than 50% of our sales come from collectors in the city, even while we are based in Delhi and Gurgaon. So rather than approaching this debut with hesitation, we came in with a sense of excitement and gratitude.

What we did consider differently was how to meaningfully engage with an audience that has supported us. Bringing our artists and their practices to Mumbai felt like a way of acknowledging that relationship. Our focus was on presenting work that resonates with the city’s pace, curiosity, and openness, while staying true to our mission of championing emerging voices.

Our analysis suggests that India's art market is experiencing a boom, with auction sales doubling between 2020 and 2022. How has it been for you?

From where we stand, the boom has largely been driven by increased attention on modern and established artists, which naturally reflects in auction trends. But what has been particularly encouraging for us is the parallel shift we’re seeing among young collectors, who are showing a growing and genuine interest in emerging voices.

While the market spotlight tends to focus on the top end, we believe the true cultural energy lies with early-career artists—the ones documenting the times we live in and shaping the future of Indian art. We would love to see even more collectors engage with these practices, not just because they offer accessible entry points, but because they represent the evolving stories, urgencies, and realities of today. For us, this period has been positive: more conversations, more curiosity, and a deeper recognition of the value of nurturing emerging talent.