South Asian Art (c. 1820's–Present)
Over the past two centuries, South Asian art has evolved through colonial encounter, nationalist awakening, and global modernism into one of the most dynamic forces in contemporary culture. Nineteenth-century academic realism and Company painting gave way to the Bengal School’s revivalist ideals in the early 20th century, led by figures such as Abanindranath Tagore, while artists like Jamini Roy drew deeply from folk and vernacular traditions to forge a distinctly modern yet indigenous visual language. The decades surrounding independence in 1947 saw the rise of the Progressive Artists’ Group in Bombay, whose members — including M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza, and F.N. Souza — developed a bold modernism rooted in both international movements and subcontinental identity. Later artists such as Tyeb Mehta, Arpita Singh, Subodh Gupta, and Bharti Kher expanded the scope of Indian contemporary art onto the global stage. Today, South Asian art reflects a complex dialogue between tradition, politics, diaspora, and rapid social change.

African Art (c. 1800–Present)
While the artistic traditions of Africa extend back millennia, encompassing some of the world’s most influential sculptural and visual cultures, our focus centres on the past two centuries — a period of profound transformation and global impact. During the colonial era, artistic production adapted to new materials, markets, and political realities, while early 20th-century European modernists drew deep inspiration from African forms. In the post-independence period, artists such as Ben Enwonwu and Skunder Boghossian articulated new national and cultural identities, merging indigenous traditions with international modernism. In recent decades, figures including El Anatsui, William Kentridge, Yinka Shonibare, and Njideka Akunyili Crosby have positioned African art at the forefront of contemporary practice, addressing histories of colonialism, migration, urbanisation, and global exchange. Across the continent and its diaspora, artists continue to redefine narratives of modernity and cultural agency within a rapidly evolving international art world.

South American Art (c. 1800–Present)
South American art over the past century has developed through independence movements, avant-garde experimentation, and ongoing social and political transformation. Nineteenth-century academic painting gave way in the early 20th century to movements seeking distinct regional modernisms, such as Brazilian Modernism and Mexican Muralism, led by figures including Diego Rivera and Tarsila do Amaral. Artists like Joaquín Torres-García in Uruguay and Wifredo Lam in Cuba fused European modernist languages with Indigenous and Afro-Latin traditions, forging hybrid visual identities. In the later 20th century, conceptual and politically engaged practices emerged in response to dictatorship and social upheaval, with artists such as Lygia Clark, Hélio Oiticica, Doris Salcedo, and Beatriz Milhazes gaining international recognition. Today, South American art is characterised by formal innovation, social critique, and a confident reassertion of regional narratives within the global art world.