Oct 29: The Art Mela by the Centre of International Modern Art, Kolkata, is India’s pre-eminent art fair for the first-time buyer. It brings India’s modern masters and the next generation of artists together in one room, with original works priced from ₹5,000 to ₹6 lakh. 

Initiated 16 years ago by CIMA, the Art Mela returns with its core mission to democratise art by bringing high-quality creations by modern masters alongside dynamic emerging artists into homes at accessible price points. On show are works by Arpita Singh, Ganesh Pyne, Paramjit Singh, Jogen Chowdhury, Ramananda Bandyopadhyay, Paresh Maity, Lalu Prasad Shaw and Jayasri Burman, among others. Alongside them are emerging artists selected through the CIMA Art Awards, which consider more than 2,000 young artists from across India each year. Traditional practitioners from Bihar, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha complete the show.

CIMA Art Mela draws its distinction from the strength of its selection. At its foundation are the CIMA Art Awards, an established platform for discovering and nurturing emerging artistic talent across India. Over five editions, the Awards have identified approximately 200 finalists per edition, creating a remarkable pool of nearly 1,000 artists whose work has undergone rigorous evaluation by some of the country’s foremost creative minds. Its juries have included Arpita Singh, Jogen Chowdhury, G. Ravinder Reddy, R. M. Palaniappan, N. N. Rimzon and Prabhakar Kolte, alongside distinguished authors, cinematographers and cultural practitioners. Art Mela draws its emerging talent from this carefully assessed pool, while traditional artists are selected for recognition through national, state and CIMA Awards. The result is a collection grounded in artistic merit, institutional rigour and the collective judgement of leading figures in Indian culture.

Since its inception, CIMA Art Mela has also benefited from the support of established artists, whose participation enables exceptional works to be offered at accessible prices. This combination of curatorial credibility, artistic excellence and affordability lies at the heart of its purpose: to democratise art collecting in India. As rising prices have increasingly placed significant works beyond the reach of discerning collectors, Art Mela seeks to revive a longstanding Indian tradition of intellectual and cultural engagement through collecting. It offers a rare opportunity to acquire works by modern masters and exceptional emerging artists, backed by the authority of CIMA’s selection process and a commitment to making serious art accessible.

“Art Mela was conceived with the belief that owning art should not be limited to a select few. Over the years, it has been our endeavour to bring established artists and emerging talent together, making good art accessible to a wider audience. With Art Mela 2026 in Delhi, we hope to encourage a new generation of collectors to discover, appreciate and live with art, while creating greater visibility and opportunities for artists across India.”— Rakhi Sarkar, Director and Curator, CIMA Gallery

The Masters

Find artworks by India’s modern masters at their most affordable.

Arpita Singh • Ganesh Pyne • Paramjit Singh • Jogen Chowdhury • Ramananda Bandyopadhyay • Paresh Maity • Lalu Prasad Shaw • Jayasri Burman

The Next Generation

These artists are selected through the CIMA Art Awards, India’s most important awards for emerging artists. Each year, more than 2,000 young artists are considered. The jury is drawn from the country’s most eminent artists and art historians, among them Arpita Singh, G. Ravinder Reddy, R. M. Palaniappan, Jogen Chowdhury, N. N. Rimzon and Prabhakar Kolte. State award winners and medallists are also part of the selection.

Preview: 11 November 2026, 4 p.m. onwardsExhibition Dates: 11–17 November 2026Daily Timings: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (12–17 November)Venue: Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

FEATURING WORKS BY OVER 80 ARTISTS FROM ACROSS INDIA

HIGHLIGHTS

• Arpita Singh | Iconic modernist known for layered narratives of memory, domesticity and feminine symbolism.

• Ganesh Pyne | Master of poetic surrealism, exploring themes of fantasy and existence.

• Jogen Chowdhury | Master of the unbroken, emotive line and sensual figurative form.

• Paresh Maity | Renowned for his vibrant, expressive landscapes and a balance of colour and atmosphere.

• Lalu Prasad Shaw | Pioneer of modern Indian figuration and graphic abstraction.

• Jayasri Burman | Creator of lyrical, mythic worlds celebrating fantasy and womanhood.

• Paramjit Singh | Renowned landscape painter known for his distinct light and colour techniques.

• Jaya Ganguly | Acclaimed for intense, surreal, figurative work driven by psychological depth.

• Farhad Hussain | Contemporary painter examining the tension between pop vibrancy and subtle disquiet.

• Shakila | Master of emotive, self-taught paper collages depicting everyday life.

• Shreyasi Chatterjee | Blends textile traditions with miniature painting and contemporary art.

• Swarna Chitrakar | National award winner, a prominent Bengal Patachitra artist linking traditional scroll narrative with contemporary themes.

• Along with national and state award winners, the finest emerging artists from Bihar, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, and CIMA Award winners.