Art Mumbai 2025 is set to deliver an ambitious, multidisciplinary programme from November 14 to 16, with a vibrant array of talks, performances, workshops, and curated walks across the city. This year’s fair spotlights regional and global dialogues, innovative art practices, and community engagement, establishing itself as a major destination on the cultural calendar.
Key Highlights and Thematic Focus
The programming opens on November 14th for VIP invitees, followed by three days open to the public from November 15 to 17. Each day offers immersive experiences from curated “Guided Walks with Art and Wonderment” within the fair, to off-site explorations of Mumbai’s art deco precincts and the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum. The guiding theme is connectivity—between geographies, genres, and communities—evident in events ranging from “Resonant Histories: India and the Arab World” to the architectural panel “Fusion of Forms: Localising Architecture”.
Talks, Panels, and Learning Series
The Speaker Series features leading cultural voices and patrons:
- Shifting the Axis of Influence: A keynote panel with Kiran Nadar and Kito de Boer on the evolution of South Asian collecting and philanthropy.
- Funding Futures: Investing in Change: Examining the role of Asian patronage in shaping contemporary art.
- How to Navigate the Art Market: Insights from industry leaders on legal, economic, and strategic aspects of collecting.
- Dedicated sessions explore legacies, such as “A Century of Stories: Celebrating Krishen Khanna,” and the entwinement of folk, tribal, and classical art traditions with “The Primordial to the Present”.
Performances, Screenings, and Live Events
The fair’s stage is alive with music, performance, and drama:
- Recital by students from the SOI Music Academy and a percussion set by Dharavi Rocks.
- Multidisciplinary aerial dance with “Echoes of the Empty Seat” by Omaggio.
- Screening of Tyeb Mehta’s “Koodal” runs daily, supported by the Tyeb Mehta Foundation.
- The acclaimed play RED, chronicling Mark Rothko’s creative journey, is performed at the Aditya Birla Auditorium.
Workshops and Hands-On Art Engagement
Artist-led workshops encourage hands-on participation for all ages:
- Tapestry Weaving with Akshata Mokashi and The Grind, the Sequence, and the Diagonal with Chetnaa, both for adults and older teens.
- A children’s art workshop “Creative Calm” by Shruti Seth, and an observational drawing session “Looking Simply” with Santhosh.
Community and Heritage Initiatives
The fair also foregrounds Mumbai’s urban heritage, hosting guided walks through historic art deco districts in partnership with Art Deco Alive. These tours, along with special children’s walks, underscore Art Mumbai’s commitment to local culture and intergenerational learning.
Inclusive and Dynamic Access
General passholders can access most programmes, with on-the-spot registration for ticketed walks and workshops. The full schedule is published online, and updates are available through Art Mumbai’s official channels.
Art Mumbai 2025 thus sets a new benchmark for Indian art fairs, weaving together artistic innovation, critical discourse, and community participation over a packed weekend in November.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
