With collections in London, Lagos and Mumbai, Kavita Chellaram is on a mission to bring African art to a wider audience.
“Yes, it is always a tussle!” says the Indian-born, British-educated collector Kavita Chellaram, when I ask her how she reconciles the three aspects of her life: collecting, selling and auctioning art by Nigerian and west African artists. “When you have an auction house, you have to have works to sell. So, I had to make difficult choices sometimes, when I was offered some really significant works!”
“Yes, it is always a tussle!” says the Indian-born, British-educated collector Kavita Chellaram, when I ask her how she reconciles the three aspects of her life: collecting, selling and auctioning art by Nigerian and west African artists. “When you have an auction house, you have to have works to sell. So, I had to make difficult choices sometimes, when I was offered some really significant works!”
Chellaram is speaking from her London home, which is filled with the art that reflects her triple heritage: India, the UK and Nigeria...