The Delhi-based gallery is exploring new approaches in the art wold through age-agnostic grants, immersive exhibitions, and a deeper commitment to cultural memory.
When New Delhi-based contemporary art gallery Art Centrix Space realised that most art grants imposed strict age restrictions, limiting creative possibilities, it decided to change the rules. It launched the Art Centrix Grants (ACS Grants), focused on undiscovered talent rather than just emerging artists. 바카라We are continually amazed by the wealth of creative talent in India, with many exceptional artists remaining unnoticed due to restrictive age criteria,바카라 says founder Monica Jain.
The gallery, founded in 2012 by Jain바카라an art historian with degrees from the College of Art and the National Museum Institute in Delhi바카라has steadily reshaped how Indian contemporary art is seen, supported, and experienced. More than an exhibition venue, it operates as a platform for interaction among artists, curators, scholars, and collectors.
바카라My aim was never just to display work,바카라 says Jain. 바카라It was to support artists through sustained engagement, thoughtful curation, and global dialogue.바카라 Over the last decade, Art Centrix has held over 40 exhibitions, worked with both Indian and international curators, and participated in major platforms like the India Art Fair and Art Mumbai 2024. It has also been a patron of the Kochi Biennale Foundation and contributes actively to critical art discourse.
At its core, the gallery strives to disrupt the status quo바카라encouraging unrestricted artistic thought and fluid conversations with audiences. Its expansion into a 3,500 sq. ft. space within a 2-acre site in South Delhi has enabled more immersive, ambitious exhibitions. 바카라Being a gallerist is about building trust with artists and audiences,바카라 Jain says. 바카라It바카라s about ensuring ideas have time and space to grow.바카라
Art Centrix is also noted for its focus on the 바카라vernacular바카라바카라not just in terms of region or language, but in memory, geography, and identity. It champions unique voices from Bhubaneswar to Baroda and diaspora communities in New York, often highlighting concerns like climate change, displacement, and political unrest.
The ACS Grants programme is intentionally age-agnostic. 바카라Our first shortlist show in July 2024 included artists aged 25 to 42,바카라 Jain shares. 바카라We believe powerful work can emerge at any point in an artist바카라s journey.바카라 The grant has been increased to âč2 lakhs, with additional support for production, shipping, and mentorship. Head of Grants Sibdas Sengupta works closely with artists from underrepresented regions to ensure broader inclusion.
Art Centrix bridges the gap between conceptual rigour and accessibility. 바카라Art is a visual medium바카라it lets us access complex ideas through form, colour, and image,바카라 says Jain. The gallery바카라s curatorial approach favours immersive, non-linear formats that invite reflection rather than passive viewing.
Its recent exhibition Magic Erase by Hemant Gavankar, recipient of the 2024 ACS Painting Grant, explores memory, loss, and urban change in Mumbai. His layered works reflect the tension between permanence and erasure. 바카라We believe in work that holds space for ambiguity,바카라 says Jain. 바카라Hemant바카라s practice does that with quiet intensity.바카라
In a fast-paced cultural landscape, Art Centrix focuses on a long-term goal바카라supporting artists not just for what they make, but for what they stand for.
About Monica Jain
Monica Jain, Founder-Director of Art Centrix Space, holds a BFA from the College of Art, New Delhi, and a MA in Art History from National Museum Institute, New Delhi. She has curated over 40 exhibitions and authored several articles on art for publications like Ideal Homes, TAKE on Art, DLF High 5 etc.
Monica has had the privilege of studying under eminent mentors, among them the distinguished Prof. (Dr.) Roobina Karode, the Director of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art whose guidance has significantly influenced both her academic and professional journey. Growing up, she learned art management under the mentorship of her uncle, Padmashri OP Jain As an artist, she trained under the renowned sculptor KS Radhakrishnan.
In 2012, she established Art Centrix Space, a contemporary art gallery in New Delhi that works with mid-career Indian artists from across India, and serves as a voice for contemporary artistic thought, reflecting the diverse vision of the Indian subcontinent. Deeply committed to preserving and promoting India바카라s rich artistic heritage, she launched Art Centrix Heritage, a new vertical dedicated to preserving and reinterpreting India바카라s cultural legacy within a contemporary context. In the same year, She also launched Art Centrix Grants, a programme designed to support emerging Indian artists. This initiative focuses on fostering artistic research, production, and exhibitions while providing essential support structures for early-career artists across diverse regions of the country. Monica has been a patron of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation since 2018.
