The mission of Mr. R. N. Singh, the founder of Progressive Art Gallery, is to take forward the legacy and trust reposed in him by the modern masters of contemporary Indian art. He sincerely believes that it is only when there is an amalgamation of resources that legacy becomes history. The eminent artists who helped and supported him to set up the gallery in Delhi in 2001 were the veritable who’s who of Indian art – M. F. Husain, F. N. Souza, K. H. Ara, S. K. Bakre, H. A. Gade, Somnath Hore, Bikash Bhattacharjee, J. Swaminathan, Manjit Bawa, K. S. Kulkarni and K. G. Subramanyan – among others. Many of the pioneering artists presented Mr. R. N. Singh paintings to help him when he was starting out while others generously gave him works to deal in. In fact, it is members of the Progressive Artists’ Group that insisted he name the gallery after their group when he decided to start his gallery. He built his enviable collection over 40 years, often with paintings given to him by artists in lieu of money he had lent them. In the early days it seemed like an unequal exchange due to the fluctuating realities of the economics of the art world, but over time, it paid him back manifold. “I feel it is like a blessing they showered on me for the purity of my intent,” he says simply. With its roots in Defence Colony, New Delhi, the gallery is now expanding globally; it is a matter of great pride that the future of Progressive Art Gallery is in the able hands of his son, Harsh Singh, who takes forward his father’s legacy into the next generation.
Having grown up surrounded with paintings, Harsh Singh, the CEO of Progressive Art Gallery, has been immersed in the Indian art sphere for decades. He has grown up watching the great Indian masters working on their canvases in front of him, and following in his father’s footsteps, he now actively takes care of new acquisitions and the international market. India at large, and Indian art, are having a global moment; Harsh appreciates this pivotal global shift and in 2024, he sought the opportunity of taking Indian art to a worldwide audience via the launch of a 6,000 square feet flagship gallery in Jumeirah, Dubai. His move helps instill confidence in both the Modern and Contemporary markets of Indian art and is leading to greater international understanding of the genre. Fueled by public expenditure and under visionary Royal patronage, the Arts sector across the Middle East, and specifically in the United Arab Emirates, has taken off in a big way over the last few years. Dubai today is a major art centre internationally and it serves as a dynamic meeting point for Indian artists with a global audience. Major private collectors and museums across the world are seeking to buy Indian art now more than ever before, and Progressive Art Gallery’s focus is to work with prestigious global collections. The gallery believes that focused exhibitions, innovative curations and a more vibrant exchange of ideas among contemporary and emerging artists will make Indian art into strong global currency. In addition to providing exceptional collection development opportunities through the sale of important works of art, the gallery seeks to create an environment where artists, curators and collectors can engage in global dialogue over the appreciation of Indian art.
