Name: Mumbai
Rating: 3.8

Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai Overview

Jehangir Art Gallery is located at Kalaghoda in Southern Mumbai and is one of the most prestigious venues for artists to display and showcase their work. The formation of the gallery was funded by Cowasji Jehangir and it has served its artful pursuits ever since it was established in 1952. Named after Sir Cowasji's late son Jehangir, the gallery has hosted the works of famous artists such as M. F. Hussain and S. H. Raza. A haven for art lovers, this destination is well known for its splendid art exhibits. Such is the prestige of this art venue that artists have to wait for as long as two years before they can open their exhibits here.

The premises of Jehangir Art Gallery were earlier an enormous mansion. At present, the gallery consists of a total of four halls with all the possible facilities to showcase various mediums of visual art, namely Exhibition Gallery, Auditorium Hall, Terrace Art Gallery for photography and visual art and the Hirji Jehangir Gallery. The esteemed gallery hosts as many as 300 shows per annum. An interesting phenomenon here is that artists who cannot make it to the gallery, display their work right outside the gallery, on the pavement.

Read more about Top 10 Art Galleries In Mumbai

Exhibitions at Jehangir Art Gallery

The story of Jehangir Art Gallery commenced on 21 January 1952, when it was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Bombay B.G Kher. Dedicated to the memory of Sir Cowasji's late son, Jehangir, this art gallery was a cornerstone in reviving Indian Art.

The edifice of Jehangir Art Gallery was designed by Durga Bajpai and was one of the very first concrete structures in the city. The inner complex serves as both a gallery and auditorium with the entrance being embellished with a wavy entrance which juts out to the street. In addition to the main gallery complex, Jehangir Art Gallery also houses Cafe Samovar and Natesans, which the country's oldest licensed antique dealer.

History of Jehangir Art Gallery

One of the stalwart institutions catering to the upholding of art and culture of Mumbai, Jehangir Art Gallery was founded in 1952. The main contributor towards the cause was Sir Cowasji Jehangir, 2nd Baronet and a prominent member of the Parsi community of the-then Bombay. An act done in memory of his late son, Sir Cowasji was urged for the decision by his friends, renowned artist K. K. Hebbar and famous nuclear physicist Homi Bhabha. A colossal institution of the city’s art and culture itself, Jehangir Art Gallery is also a mammoth presence among the indie galleries and art stalls of Kala Ghoda area - a hotspot of contemporary creativity in downtown Mumbai. The building was inaugurated on 21st of January, 1952 by the-then Chief Minister of Bombay, B. G. Kher. Jehangir Art Gallery has been a house to numerous names in the world of art over the years, including M. F. Hussain, Akbar Padamsee, Anjolie Ela Menon and K. K. Hebbar as well. It has also encouraged and enriched young and emerging artists with their many shows and exhibitions around the year, especially the Monsoon Art Show.

Architecture of Jehangir Art Gallery

Designed by Durga Bajpai, Jehangir Art Gallery is one of the oldest and earliest concrete structures of the city. It was built right in the heart of the artistic part of the city, behind the well-known and much-visited Prince of Wales Museum, now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya, in the Fort area of Mumbai.

Currently, there are seven separate halls within the complex of Jehangir Art Gallery - Exhibition Galleries 1, 2, 3 and, the Auditorium Hall, the Hirji Jehangir Gallery and the Terrace Art Gallery for Photography and Visual Art. All these galleries have remained witness to spectacular artforms over the years. In terms of interior, it is a prime example of an inward-looking art gallery, reflecting the architectural minds of the time it was built. The facade is a simple one, but with relief stone cladding.

How To Reach Jehangir Art Gallery

You can reach Shyam Prasad Mukherjee chowk in Kalagohda, fort area by private or state bus services or also by hiring cab or auto, from where the Jehangir Art Gallery is nearby.The nearest railhead is CST, from where one can hire a taxi to get to the gallery.