The Ultimate Gallery Guide To Mumbai: 10 Must-Visit Art Spaces In Mumbai

Art seeps silently into every winding lane, brewing a quiet revolution in the urban din of Mumbai. An ever-present force in this once-scattered archipelago of seven islands, shaped by migration and reinvention, art has always played a pivotal role in the city’s transformation. By the 19th century, as Bombay rose to prominence under the British Raj, its cultural fabric flourished alongside trade, architecture, and intellectual life. Subsequently, the 20th century cemented Bombay’s place as India’s cultural capital, with the 1940s Progressive Artists’ Group—formed by F.N. Souza, M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza, and others—reimagining the nation’s artistic identity through modernist expression.

While the Art Deco movement was shaping the city’s seafronts with geometric grandeur in the 40s, a secret rebellion was taking root in its studios and salons. Post-independence, Mumbai rose in both skyline and essence, embracing a renaissance of cinema, commerce, and creative reckoning—art. Today, amid a sudden cultural awakening and a dizzying appetite for visual discourse, Mumbai’s art scene pulsates with emerging voices, experimental happenings, and spaces that blur the lines between reality and the ethereal. No longer confined to pristine white cubes, Mumbai’s art spills into cafés, co-working lofts, and mills, where a gallant generation of artists and curators weaves nuances of ingenuity, experimentation and an ongoing pursuit of uncharted expression. From vibrant bylanes in Bandra to warehouse walls in Colaba, here are 10 galleries you must visit.

1. Jhaveri Contemporary, Colaba

Tucked away on the third floor of a heritage building with balconies framing the Gateway of India, Jhaveri Contemporary brings a rustic allure to Mumbai’s contemporary art scene.  Established in 2010 by sisters Amrita and Priya Jhaveri, who also co-authored the essential 2005 guidebook 101: A Guide to 101 Modern and Contemporary Indian Artists. The gallery champions artists whose work reflects South Asian histories and appeal, weaving tradition and ingenuity into every oeuvre. Renowned for its meticulous roster, Jhaveri Contemporary hosted Anish Kapoor’s first public exhibition in the Indian subcontinent. Its exhibitions deftly navigate the delicate balance between the poetic and the political, unveiling masterpieces by celebrated contemporary South Asian icons and international talents, while stewarding the legacies of luminaries such as Mrinalini Mukherjee and Anwar Jalal Shemza.

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2. Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation, Kala Ghoda

Housed within the revered Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation (JNAF) is one of Mumbai’s most momentous custodians of modern Indian art. To pay respect to Jehangir K.S. Nicholson’s—a discerning chartered accountant turned art patron—wish to share his collection with the public, JNAF was endowed in 2001. Once his private trove, Nicholson’s legacy, spanning over five decades, comprises more than 800 works, spotlighting the Bombay Progressives and pivotal voices of Indian modernism. In 2007, the Foundation joined hands with the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), where it now serves as the museum’s modern and contemporary art wing. With rotating exhibitions spanning iconic and overlooked narratives, the gallery has explored diverse themes—from the legacy of Bombay Talkies to the ecological significance of urban forests.

3. Akara – Modern And Contemporary, Colaba

Located in the heart of Mumbai’s art district, Akara was founded in 2009 by Puneet and Megha Shah with a vision to ally modern Indian art and contemporary global dialogues. Since then, it has flourished into an arduous presence with two distinct spaces that sit together harmoniously. Akara Modern, established in 2015, champions India’s renowned modernists. Just steps away, Akara Contemporary—housed in a grand Indo-Saracenic building—features emerging and mid-career artists from South Asia and beyond. The gallery’s curatorial vision is led by a cohort of young women curators—Veeranganakumari Solanki, Arushi Vats, and Shreemoyee Moitra—repositioning South Asian art within a global framework.

4. TARQ, Fort

Housed within a historic building just a short walk from Flora Fountain, TARQ was founded by Hena Kapadia with a background in Art History and Contemporary Art Practice. Established in 2014, this gallery is a vibrant experimental hub for emerging contemporary artists, redefining art exhibitions and their appreciation in India. Guided by an inquisitive ethos, the gallery invites novice and seasoned art collectors to participate contemplatively with art, crafting aesthetic appreciation paired with insight into artistic processes. Under Kapadia’s visionary stewardship, TARQ has curated nearly 70 compelling exhibitions while championing outreach, offering insightful workshops, engaging talks, and immersive guided tours that spark vibrant discourse around contemporary art.

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5. Sakshi Gallery, Colaba

Nestled in the southern part of Mumbai, Colaba, Sakshi Gallery—founded in 1986 by the visionary Geetha Mehra—has emerged as a protagonist in the realm of contemporary art. Revered for its distinguished curation, the gallery balances a celebrated legacy of Indian masters such as Jehangir Sabavala, Manjit Bawa, Rekha Rodwittiya, and Surendran Nair, with an unwavering commitment to fostering the vanguard of emerging talent. Sakshi bridges worlds by introducing visionary international artists like El Anatsui, Gregory Crewdson, and Julian Opie to Indian audiences. Currently, led by founder Geetha Mehra and director V Sanjay Kumar, Sakshi Gallery continues to shape contemporary art with a bold, cross-cultural vision and a sharp eye for innovation.

6. Nine Fish Art Gallery, Byculla

Within the verdant setting of a historic textile mill in Byculla, Mumbai, Nine Fish Art Gallery was established in 2015 by Dr. Anurag Kanoria—an aesthete, academic, and passionate patron of the arts. Positioned at the intersection of heritage and contemporary art, the gallery champions voices from South Asia, with a discerning emphasis on evocative practices spanning painting, sculpture, installation, video, new media, and performative art. With a commitment to dialogue, this gallery transcends its mere role—curating residencies, talks, or cultural programming. With a focus on tribal arts, architecture, and design research, the gallery extends its platform to embrace a wider creative spectrum, crafting an inclusive environment.

7. APRE Art House, Colaba

Amidst Colaba’s cultural corridor, APRE Art House ushers in a contemporary era of modern art in Mumbai. Founded in 2022 by Prerna Jain, APRE Art House has swiftly positioned itself as a discerning voice in Mumbai’s contemporary art scene. In its brief yet impactful tenure, the gallery has cultivated a reputation with its cosmopolitan curatorial lens and a refined commitment to nurturing collectors, both new and seasoned. From uncanny sculptures to immersive digital works, APRE’s programming unfolds, probing the intersections of materiality and technology, past and future, to spark fresh dialogues in contemporary art. With exhibitions spanning New York, New Delhi, and Mumbai, the gallery continues to champion diverse voices through discerning curatorial practice, conceptual rigour, and an allure to shifting aesthetic paradigms.

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8. Galerie ISA, Ballard Estate

Housed within the magnificent Kamani Chambers in Mumbai’s Ballard Estate, Galerie ISA has etched a name in the contemporary art circuit. Launched in 2011 by Ashwin Thadani, the gallery, sprawling 5,000 sq. ft., brings together a compelling mix of established international artists and a new generation of South Asian and diasporic voices. From Olafur Eliasson and Idris Khan to indigenous voices like Ricky Vasan, Maha Ahmed, and Anoushka Mirchandani, the gallery showcases an ensemble of mixed-media oeuvres that traverse material boundaries and cultural terrains. Ashwin Thadani’s foray into the art realm was more of a serendipitous encounter. Thadani, a passionate collector in his twenties, found the path to establishing Galerie ISA in 2011 by a chance conversation with German artist Anselm Reyle, which led to Thadani organising his first exhibition even before securing a physical gallery space. In 2021, the gallery extended its vision with the opening of Galerie ISA 9—a second space next door, outfitted with raw concrete floors, Gothic arches and Corinthian columns, providing the perfect backdrop for more experimental projects and intimate exhibitions.

9. Experimenter, Colaba

Nestled in the culturally brimming neighbourhood of Colaba, Experimenter opened its doors as the gallery’s third and most recent outpost in 2022. The gallery’s journey began in Kolkata in 2009, when Prateek and Priyanka Raja co-founded Experimenter, driven by a shared conviction to build a platform for bold, multidisciplinary practices. What began as a quiet but persistent idea in their mid-twenties grew into a bold vision. In 2018, the gallery expanded with a second, larger space in Kolkata, driven by intellectual curiosity and shaped by the political and cultural currents of its time. Over the past 15 years, it has evolved into a compelling programme that prioritizes curiosity and dialogue over mere display. Now, housed in the heart of Mumbai, the space extends Experimenter’s commitment to contemporary art practices, bringing critically acclaimed, discourse-led curation to the city’s dynamic cultural fabric is palpable in its rich catalogue of exhibitions. Recognised globally for its scrupulous curatorial approach and representation of some of the most significant contemporary artists, Experimenter, across its three locations in India, continues to foster a critical dialogue in South Asia’s art scene and beyond.

10. Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Ballard Estate

Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke stands as a heralding canvas within contemporary Indian art, its illustrious legacy unfolding over more than three decades. Founded by Usha Mirchandani, who borrowed the avant-garde spirit of 1970s New York’s art scene, the physical gallery wasn’t established until 2006, in Mumbai. Its roots trace back further when Mirchandani returned to Bombay in the early 1980s to pioneer The Fine Art Resource, India’s first professional art consultancy and was later joined by her daughter Ranjana in 1992. The duo’s vision expanded internationally when Ranjana initiated a Berlin space in 1996, creating awareness for South Asian art to European patrons through exhibitions, including Bhupen Khakhar’s trailblazing solo show. Today, the gallery has a meticulously crafted roster featuring artists like C.K. Rajan, Jyothi Basu, and Kulpreet Singh. Its recent relocation to a grander space in Mumbai’s storied Ballard Estate, paired with the opening of a new venue in New Delhi’s Defence Colony in 2024, affirms its unwavering commitment to celebrating contemporary Indian art.