In mapping the world, veteran artist Gulammohammed Sheikh has been able to engage with the triumphs and challenges of freedom of expression in the many Indias he has witnessed. This conversation is between him and Indrapramit Roy (Associate Professor, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda) with independent art critic & curator Gayatri Sinha (Founder & Director, Critical Collective, Delhi). Having access to his knowledge in the field of art, poetry and art criticism is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all audiences today.
Generously supported by JSW, the IAF 2025 Talks Series, Growing Focus, curated by independent researcher and curator Shaleen Wadhwana, examines the increasing prominence of South Asia within contemporary art, design and culture. The series highlights the efforts of People of the Global Majority — comprising more than 80 per cent of the world’s population, with roots in Indigenous, African, Asian and Latin American cultures — who are asserting their presence across arts and cultural ecosystems. Amid the ongoing decentering of dominant ‘Global North’ narratives, it frames this moment not merely as a response to decolonisation but as landmark, historic self-determination. We explore this impact for audiences today and every day.
Gulammohammed Sheikh: Gulammohammed Sheikh, born in Gujarat (1937), is an acclaimed artist with a master’s in fine arts from the University of Baroda. He has held residencies worldwide and received prestigious honors like the Padma Shri (1983) and Padma Bhushan (2014). His works are featured in global museums, including the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, the Peabody Essex Museum, Virginia, USA; the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi; the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan; and more, as well as several private collections in India and abroad.
Indrapramit Roy: Indrapramit Roy (b. 1964) is an artist and educator, with a background from Visva-Bharati, Baroda, and the Royal College of Art, London. He has held 19 solo exhibitions and shown internationally in cities like Berlin, London, and New York. A Fulbright Fellow and recipient of numerous awards, he teaches at MS University.
Gayatri Sinha: Gayatri Sinha is an art critic and curator based in New Delhi, specializing in gender, iconography, media, and social history. She has curated exhibitions in India and abroad, including at the India Art Summit and Newark Museum. Sinha has edited multiple influential publications on Indian art and women artists.
