Let’s call it what it is. ‘Aunty Art’—the colourful, decorative, figurative comfort zone that dominates Indian galleries—is killing the market.
Safe faces, ornamental narratives, nostalgia wrapped in oil and acrylic. It sells in crores. Collectors lap it up. But let’s not pretend this is where the edge of Indian art lies. It’s wallpaper with a price tag.
This kind of work doesn’t take risks. It doesn’t question. It doesn’t evolve. And worst of all, it sucks the oxygen away from artists who are actually pushing boundaries—formally, conceptually, politically.
Galleries chase what sells. Collectors want what matches the furniture. And artists who dare to experiment? They’re left out. Overlooked. Undervalued.
This is not about elitism. It’s about honesty. The Indian art world has to choose—keep feeding the same loop, or invest in work that actually builds a future.