The global art world's annual barometer of influence, the ArtReview Power 100 list, has prominently featured several Indian names in its 2024 edition. The list, which maps the individuals and collectives shaping contemporary art, includes prominent figures like art collector Kiran Nadar and artist Bose Krishnamachari, underscoring India's growing clout on the international cultural stage.
Indian Power Players on the Global Stage
Leading the Indian contingent is Kiran Nadar, the founder of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), who secured the 18th position. She is recognized not just as a collector but as a pivotal force in institutional building within the Indian subcontinent. Following her is curator Natasha Ginwala, the Artistic Director of Colomboscope and co-curator of the Sharjah Biennial, placed at number 39.
The list further celebrates collaborative and institutional efforts. The Mumbai-based artist collective CAMP finds its place at rank 51. At number 52 is Bose Krishnamachari, the renowned artist and President of the Kochi Biennale Foundation. The Kolkata-based Experimenter Art Gallery, run by gallerists Prateek and Priyanka Raja, is featured at 59. Rounding off the Indian representation is the influential Raqs Media Collective at position 76.
The Global Toppers and a Kochi Connection
Topping the global list for 2024 is Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama, marking the first time an African artist has claimed the number one spot. Mahama is acclaimed for his large-scale installations using everyday materials to comment on trade, migration, and economic history. His work is set for a significant Indian debut at the upcoming Kochi-Muziris Biennale, opening on December 12.
His presentation, an iteration of 'Parliament of Ghosts', will be an immersive archive reflecting on political histories and colonial legacies. The installation will feature walls covered with marked jute sacks, discarded chairs from public institutions, and other materials sourced from Kochi's second-hand markets, creating a powerful site-specific narrative.
The second position is jointly held by Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar Museums and Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi of the Sharjah Art Foundation and Biennial, highlighting the influential role of West Asian cultural patronage.
What the List Represents
ArtReview describes its Power 100 as the "annual portrait of power in the art world." It is not merely a ranking of fame but an analytical snapshot of the forces that have determined "what art has been seen and how it has been seen over the past 12 months." The inclusion of multiple Indians across categories—from collectors and curators to artists and gallerists—signals a robust and multifaceted contribution from the country's art ecosystem.
The presence of these figures alongside global leaders like Ibrahim Mahama points to a more diversified and interconnected art world, where narratives from the Global South are gaining central importance. The upcoming showcase of Mahama's work in Kochi further strengthens this transnational dialogue, bringing a globally celebrated artistic voice into direct conversation with the Indian context.
