India Art Fair 2026 Highlights the Growing Influence of Design Collectibles in India’s Creative Economy

The India Art Fair 2026 has spotlighted design collectibles as a transformative force in India’s cultural and creative economy. Once viewed as functional, furniture, lighting, and everyday objects are now being reimagined as collectible art, reflecting India’s evolving aesthetic sensibilities and global ambitions.

Key Highlights

• Architect Kunal Maniar unveiled a 21-foot, 3,000 kg sculptural installation, featuring a bolster crafted from water hyacinth and banana pulp fibre an eco-conscious innovation in material use.
• Designer Dhruv Agarwal presented a chandelier inspired by Channapatna beads, evoking nostalgia and childlike wonder, with colors drawn from his visit to the Kumbh Mela.
• Architect-designer Ashiesh Shah reinterpreted traditional copper forms into striking light fixtures, bridging heritage craftsmanship with contemporary design.
• The fair emphasized how design collectibles are shaping India’s cultural economy, attracting collectors, curators, and international audiences.

This year’s edition underscores a broader shift: design is no longer confined to utility it is becoming a collectible asset, merging tradition with innovation and positioning India as a rising hub in the global design market.

Sources: The Hindu, World News