8 months ago
India's Art Market Booms in 2025
In 2025, India's art market saw a big boost.
Paintings by famous artists like M F Hussain sold for record prices, and more people around the world are interested in buying Indian art.
The government also lowered taxes on art, which helped.
Big art events in Delhi and Mumbai showed off Indian talent and sold a lot of art.
Experts say this is because India's economy is doing well, and more young, rich people are buying art.
However, some traditional art forms still need more support.
Overall, it's a good time for Indian art!
M F Hussain’s ‘Gram Yatra’ became the first Indian painting to sell for over USD 10 million.
Indian art auctions achieved Rs 2,456.7 crore in 2025, a 20% increase from the previous year.
The GST on art was reduced from 12% to 5%, boosting the market.
Indian modernists and contemporary artists are gaining international recognition and are viewed as 'blue-chip' assets.
Major art events like the India Art Fair in Delhi and Mumbai, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, and Serendipity Arts Festival highlighted South Asian talent and saw strong sales.
- Who
- Indian artists, collectors, galleries, and art institutions
- What
- A significant resurgence in India's art market with record sales and increased global demand
- Where
- India, with international recognition and sales
- When
- 2025
- Why
- Due to a vibrant economy, increased private wealth, digital platforms, and international recognition
Key facts
- Record Sale
- M F Hussain’s ‘Gram Yatra’ sold for over USD 10 million
- Market Growth
- Indian art auctions achieved Rs 2,456.7 crore in 2025, up 20% from 2024
- GST Reduction
- GST on art lowered from 12% to 5%
- International Recognition
- Indian modernists and contemporary artists gaining global attention
- Key Events
- India Art Fair in Delhi and Mumbai, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Serendipity Arts Festival
- Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals
- Number of Indian ultra-high-net-worth individuals set to double by 2027
- Notable Artists
- Tyeb Mehta, V S Gaitonde, Subodh Gupta, Atul Dodiya, Bharti Kher, Jitish Kallat, Shilpa Gupta
- Market Stability
- Indian art market experienced stabilisation and qualitative growth in 2025
Quotes
Shahzada Khurram
Curator and cultural influencer
“the Indian art market in 2025 experienced stabilisation and qualitative growth rather than a speculative surge”
thestatesman.com
“Recent editions of the Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report point to India’s continued momentum within Asia, driven by a more informed collector base, increased private sales activity, and stronger institutional participation”
thestatesman.com
Aakshat Sinha
Art curator
“2025 has the potential to be the year of significant change in how Indian contemporary art is perceived, received and valued in the global art space”
thestatesman.com
“After a commercially more successful year than the last decade for contemporary art, the years ahead will reveal the extent to which the Indian contemporary artists and galleries that promote them will be able to build on this momentum”
thestatesman.com
Tara Lal
Co-founder of Chatterjee & Lal
“ever-frugal collectors are now asking for that to be factored into a further-discounted final price”
thestatesman.com
Jaya Asokan
Director of India Art Fair (IAF)
“We had a lot of international visitors this year, probably more so than the last five years. That really speaks to the strength of the Indian artists, South Asian artists, but also what we have been doing globally. Visitors from Los Angeles and Europe were among the most sizable international visitors at this year’s fair”
thestatesman.com
Sources
Related news
MNS Seeks Fever Profile Testing At Nerul, Karave Centres
Paropakar 2026 Art Sale in Jubilee Hills to Fund Education
Mumbai's August Curated Events Celebrate Heritage, Art, and Wellness
Digital art surges: from AI-generated masterpieces to immersive installations
Mumbai's 102-year-old Noor Mohammadi reopens after hygiene crackdown
