India Art Fair 2026

If it’s early springtime in Delhi, & the weather is lovely, then it must be time for the India Art Fair.

It is, and it is, and therefore it is, if you see what I mean.

Dunno how the Art Fair manages it, but they ALWAYS have great weather!

As I’ve written before here in this blog, I thoroughly enjoy visiting this fair, not just for the art, she hastens to add, but also for the absolutely splendid people watching.

The latter was the best ever.

Each year, Delhi’s finest up their game of who can sally out in the most eye-catching outfit. Outrageous, OTT, ethnic-with-a-quirky twist…you name it, Delhi’s beautiful people were wearing it yesterday.

And the art?

Interesting, and varied, and wide-ranging – as ever.

Lots of fabric art – is that the correct term? – such as weaving and embroidery.

Much more tribal art.

Guinea fowl are a fave bird of mine, so this darling upside down lil’ fella appealed (below):

There were some gorgeous books on display, including an absolutely fascinating set of photos from Heinrich Harrier of “Seven Years in Tibet”(1944-1951) fame.

How darling is this little pudding?!

Many old faithfuls, which are always good to see, such as Husain, and Subodh Gupta and Ai Wei Wei.

Like so (below)

Yeah, it’s Lego.

Subodh Gupta’s trademark utensils:

There was a small but interesting installation to walk through, but I got blocked by a young man wearing very weird & wonderful specs, who was trying to chivvy “Mummy” along & refused to budge to let me squeeze past. “Mummy, arre, jaldi ao! Stop taking photos there & come here, nah. I want to take a selfie.”

Of course he did.

Another installation (below) looking fab in the spring sunshine:

Favourites & highlights were, in no particular order…

Haal Mukaam : Current Address by Girjesh Kumar Singh (below)

These works are created using brick and mortar from demolished construction sites. They are very striking:

Kohei Kyomori’s gorgeous paintings (below) reminded me of ‘kintsugi” – the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending fractures with urushi lacquer mixed or dusted with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Instead of hiding damage, this centuries-old technique highlights cracks as part of the object’s history, embracing flaws to create a stronger, more beautiful, and unique piece. 

I loved this wood and metal sculpture called “Village Banana” by Myadhar Sahu:

Thandiwe Muriu from Kenya had a fab, eye-catching series :

One of my favourite things to do at the India Art Fair (other than people watching!) is to choose which piece of art I would take home, if I could choose.

This year I was spoiled for choice.

There were these gorgeous jars by Rachid Koirachi, reminiscent of what I’d chosen as my desired take-home in 2020, so at least I’m consistent in my taste!

There was an absolutely fabulous collection of photos of Calcutta boarding houses from the 1960s -1980s by Dinabandhu Das, the artist I’d “chosen” to take home with me last year.

Again, consistent in my taste.

And so now there are 2 magnificent photo collections in my imaginary gallery…

My choice of one favourite was difficult this year, but if I had to choose…as well as the gorgeous Dinabandhu Das photos, I would greedily ask for this beautiful woodcut (below) called Light of my Life by Vijay Pichamani

Love the sweet expression of the father, and the detail of the moths in the bicycle lamp.

Lovely.

The Art Fair is on this weekend at the NSIC Exhibition Ground in Okhla. Well worth it.

The traffic & parking situation is rubbish, as it is every year, so don’t let that discourage you.