'Contemporary Now' art festival in Chennai unites galleries from five Indian cities

Festival structure and collaborations

The third edition of the 'Contemporary Now' art festival in Chennai spanned 10 venues, hosting exhibitions, panel discussions, and curated walkthroughs. Galleries from Kolkata, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, and Mumbai contributed artworks, creating a platform for cultural exchange and dialogue across regional art ecosystems.

According to YourStory, the participating galleries included Experimenter (Kolkata), Archer Art Gallery (Ahmedabad), Vadehra Art Gallery (New Delhi), Ojas Art (New Delhi), Art Alive Gallery (New Delhi), TARQ (Mumbai), Chatterjee & Lal (Mumbai), Chemould Prescott Road (Mumbai), and Project 88 (Mumbai). The festival showcased a mix of traditional, modern, and experimental contemporary art, reflecting the diversity of India’s artistic landscape.

Participating galleries and their focus

The Kolkata-based Experimenter, founded in 2009 by Prateek and Priyanka Raja, is known for its intellectually ambitious and experimental approach to contemporary art.

Archer Art Gallery, established in Ahmedabad in 1978 by artist Anil Relia, specializes in limited-edition prints, including serigraphs by prominent Indian artists.

New Delhi’s Vadehra Art Gallery, founded in 1987, is a leading institution for modern and contemporary South Asian art. Ojas Art, also in New Delhi and established in 2006 by Poonam and Rajiv Sethi, focuses on India’s indigenous, folk, and tribal artistic practices. Art Alive Gallery, founded in 2001 by Sunaina Anand, promotes modern and contemporary Indian art.

In Mumbai, TARQ, founded in 2014, emphasizes research-driven and experimental art. Chatterjee & Lal, established in 2003 by Mortimer Chatterjee and Tara Lal, and Chemould Prescott Road, founded in 1963 by Kekoo and Khorshed Gandhy, are among the city’s pioneering galleries. Project 88, established in 2006 by Sree Goswami, is known for presenting conceptually driven and experimental work.

Broader implications for India’s art ecosystem

The festival underscored the role of inter-city collaborations in strengthening India’s art ecosystem. By bringing together galleries and artists from different regions, the event facilitated dialogue, exposed audiences to diverse artistic practices, and created opportunities for future partnerships. Such initiatives highlight the potential for regional art hubs to complement major centers like New Delhi and Mumbai.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

For founders and operators in the creative and cultural sectors, 'Contemporary Now' demonstrates how collaboration can expand reach and deepen audience engagement. The festival’s model—uniting galleries from multiple cities to curate exhibitions and discussions—offers a blueprint for scaling cultural initiatives without relying solely on established hubs. It also signals the growing importance of tier-two cities like Chennai and Ahmedabad as viable platforms for artistic exchange. For investors or entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in the arts, the event’s success suggests a rising appetite for curated, multi-venue experiences that bridge traditional and contemporary practices.

Related on Lazyfounder

• More startup news