The Bombay Art Society is a non-profit premier art organization based in Mumbai, founded in 1888. The Bombay Art Society is a 127-year-old institution founded for encouraging and promoting art. Most of the renowned artists on India'sart scene have been associated with the Bombay Art Society in some way. The society boasts of a rich past though its members and there is no denying its historical context and it is against this that the Bombay Art Society's greatness can be best understood.
History
For some five or six years after the foundation of the Society in 1888, the Exhibits of the European Artists preponderated over those of the Indian Artists as shown by the catalogues of the Annual Exhibitions. This was natural as The Sir J.J. School of Art was then in its first stages of development, but in course of time as taste for the acquisition of art as a profession was developed under able Principals of the School of Art, like Messrs. Terry, and Griffiths, and by the publicity given to Indian Artists by the Bombay Art Society, the School of Art produced a band of Indian Artists, whose works can be compared most favourably with those of European Artists. The number of works by Indian Artists exhibited in subsequent years at the Society's Annual Exhibition later considerably increased and secured many medals and prizes. It was quite an achievement for Indian Artists under British Rule.
Advancements
The society has operated in the Jehangir Art Gallery since 1952, which is also the regular venue for the Society's Annual Exhibitions, thus faces difficulties in executing many of its ambitious plans like a permanent art gallery and an art library. During the Society's Centenary year in 1990 veteran artist and the then president of the Society K. K. Hebbar and the committee took the initiative for the complex. The Prime Minister then Shri Rajiv Gandhi through Maharashtra Government has gifted a piece of land in Bandra, Mumbai for the complex which is now ready. A number of awards and medals are given by the society. The prestigious Bendre-Husain Scholarship for encouraging and supporting the emerging artists instituted in 1989-90 was donated by legendary artist M.F. Husain. Recipients of the Roopadhar award for lifetime achievement include Sadanand Bakre and Tyeb Mehta.
Architecture and design
Architect Sanjay Puri has designed the building with inspiration from the Cubist sculptures and resembles European expressionist architecture, which will house three galleries. It is the only public building to be opened up in Mumbai in recent times, a space that will solely be dedicated to the arts and art community.
