This is an archive article published on January 20, 2022

‘I see influences of some of the artists whose works I have framed in the past’: Murti Ahuja

One of India's most recognised framers, Murti Ahuja on experimenting with the paintbrush during the lockdown and framing for the art giants

4 min readNew DelhiJan 20, 2022 03:50 PM IST

Murti Ahuja, Murti Ahuja paintings, Murti Ahuja framer

"I have been thinking of painting for years but never had the time," Murti Ahuja said. (Express photo: Gajendra Yadav)

The name Murti Ahuja might not be familiar to a lot of art connoisseurs but most of them are likely to be familiar with his skill. For numerous Delhi-based artists, it is Ahuja who takes a look at their works first — right when it is ready to leave their studios and before it is shared with the audience. Having framed lakhs of works in the last five decades, known to be one of the most well-established framers in India, Ahuja is now experimenting with the brush and the palette himself.

In Premium | ‘When I make a work, I tap into the things that I don’t see’: Bharti Kher

At his multi-storey enterprise in Okhla, Ahuja Framers Private Limited, between the works of masters such as SH Raza, Arpita Singh and Krishen Khanna, is his own gauche — a landscape in muted shades of green. “I have been thinking of painting for years but never had the time. During the lockdown last year, with everyone at home, I decided to finally give it a try,” says Ahuja, 62.

Murthy Ahuja ,Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav,051121

Dominating the depictions are myriad landscapes inspired by memories of the numerous hill towns Ahuja has visited in the past. “We would go to a hill station every year. I would find it very calming and that stillness reflects in the works,” says Ahuja. Among others are the deep forest greens in one frame, the orange sun in the horizon in another, the rugged mountains and a picturesque beach. “I see influences of some of the artists whose works I have framed in the past. Some of the works, for instance, are inspired by Paramjit Singh’s style. I remember, years ago, he had shown me how to use the colour… I also used to share my works with Paresh Maity when I was painting. He, too, has been giving his feedback,” says Ahuja.

ALSO READ | Several major art exhibitions in the Capital postponed due to COVID

The entrepreneur was still in his teens when he began assisting his father Dina Nath Ahuja at their store in Paharganj in the ’70s. While the shop framed paintings of mythological deities earlier, it was soon frequented by young artists who were still years away from receiving commercial success, given the art industry in India. “Later, Manjit Bawa told me how many artists had little money and got the framing done on credit basis,” says Ahuja.

“The frame, to me, comes to mind instinctively while painting,” says Ahuja. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

While his clients now boast several big names in art, from artists such as Manu Parekh, Subodh Gupta, Dayanita Singh, Raghu Rai and A Ramachandran to institutions such as the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art and DAG, Ahuja notes that he makes an effort to keep up with the international market.

“We try to use the latest technology. My son, who has joined the business, is also a graduate in art and my nephew specialises in designing. The artists we work with are showing at museums across the world and know the international trends,” says Ahuja, adding how in the past he has worked with specific requirements of artists — from delicate frames for Singh to experimenting for artists such as Rameshwar Broota. “Most artists are very particular about the frame and sit with me for hours to decide,” adds the entrepreneur who is also planning a book on framing.

ALSO READ | Contagion and Colours: Art highlights from 2021 and what to look forward to

With his own works too, each frame has been carefully designed — if a gray-blue mountain landscape goes in a thick gray frame with a single mount, the torrid beach waters seem to be creating ripples within multiple mounts. “The frame, to me, comes to mind instinctively while painting,” says Ahuja.

Story continues below this ad

📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!

Vandana Kalra

Vandana Kalra is an art critic and Deputy Associate Editor with The Indian Express. She has spent more than two decades chronicling arts, culture and everyday life, with modern and contemporary art at the heart of her practice. With a sustained engagement in the arts and a deep understanding of India’s cultural ecosystem, she is regarded as a distinctive and authoritative voice in contemporary art journalism in India. Vandana Kalra's career has unfolded in step with the shifting contours of India’s cultural landscape, from the rise of the Indian art market to the growing prominence of global biennales and fairs. Closely tracking its ebbs and surges, she reports from studios, galleries, museums and exhibition spaces and has covered major Indian and international art fairs, museum exhibitions and biennales, including the Venice Biennale, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Documenta, Islamic Arts Biennale. She has also been invited to cover landmark moments in modern Indian art, including SH Raza’s exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the opening of the MF Husain Museum in Doha, reflecting her long engagement with the legacies of India’s modern masters. Alongside her writing, she applies a keen editorial sensibility, shaping and editing art and cultural coverage into informed, cohesive narratives. Through incisive features, interviews and critical reviews, she brings clarity to complex artistic conversations, foregrounding questions of process, patronage, craft, identity and cultural memory. The Global Art Circuit: She provides extensive coverage of major events like the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Serendipity Arts Festival, and high-profile international auctions. Artist Spotlights: She writes in-depth features on modern masters (like M.F. Husain) and contemporary performance artists (like Marina Abramović). Art and Labor: A recurring theme in her writing is how art reflects the lives of the marginalized, including migrants, farmers, and labourers. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent portfolio is dominated by the coverage of the 2025 art season in India: 1. Kochi-Muziris Biennale & Serendipity Arts Festival "At Serendipity Arts Festival, a 'Shark Tank' of sorts for art and crafts startups" (Dec 20, 2025): On how a new incubator is helping artisans pitch products to investors. "Artist Birender Yadav's work gives voice to the migrant self" (Dec 17, 2025): A profile of an artist whose decade-long practice focuses on brick kiln workers. "At Kochi-Muziris Biennale, a farmer’s son from Patiala uses his art to draw attention to Delhi’s polluted air" (Dec 16, 2025). "Kochi Biennale showstopper Marina Abramović, a pioneer in performance art" (Dec 7, 2025): An interview with the world-renowned artist on the power of reinvention. 2. M.F. Husain & Modernism "Inside the new MF Husain Museum in Qatar" (Nov 29, 2025): A three-part series on the opening of Lawh Wa Qalam in Doha, exploring how a 2008 sketch became the architectural core of the museum. "Doha opens Lawh Wa Qalam: Celebrating the modernist's global legacy" (Nov 29, 2025). 3. Art Market & Records "Frida Kahlo sets record for the most expensive work by a female artist" (Nov 21, 2025): On Kahlo's canvas The Dream (The Bed) selling for $54.7 million. "All you need to know about Klimt’s canvas that is now the most expensive modern artwork" (Nov 19, 2025). "What’s special about a $12.1 million gold toilet?" (Nov 19, 2025): A quirky look at a flushable 18-karat gold artwork. 4. Art Education & History "Art as play: How process-driven activities are changing the way children learn art in India" (Nov 23, 2025). "A glimpse of Goa's layered history at Serendipity Arts Festival" (Dec 9, 2025): Exploring historical landmarks as venues for contemporary art. Signature Beats Vandana is known for her investigative approach to the art economy, having recently written about "Who funds the Kochi-Muziris Biennale?" (Dec 11, 2025), detailing the role of "Platinum Benefactors." She also explores the spiritual and geometric aspects of art, as seen in her retrospective on artist Akkitham Narayanan and the history of the Cholamandal Artists' Village (Nov 22, 2025). ... Read More

📣 For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram

Loading Recommendations...

Aug 11: Latest News

Live Blog