Nature Morte was founded by Peter Nagy and Alan Belcher in New York’s East Village in 1982, where it operated until 1988. The gallery was reestablished by Nagy in New Delhi in 1997, following his move to India in 1992. He brought a working knowledge of post-1960s exhibition culture, shaped in New York, where galleries played an active role in artistic production, critical discourse, and in building relationships with institutions. That experience broadened the context within which contemporary art operated in India at the time, introducing an approach grounded in experimentation, curatorial rigour, and sustained engagement with artists. With this foundation, the gallery developed into a platform that connected artistic practice in India with the global art world.

From its early years in New Delhi, Nature Morte distinguished itself by creating space for practices that moved beyond painting-centric narratives. It supported conceptual, sculptural, lens-based, and installation-driven practices, providing artists with the time, technical support, and conditions required to realise complex works. Over the past three decades, this commitment has remained central to the gallery’s programme. Nature Morte has supported artists whose work has entered major museum collections, biennials, and international public exhibitions, while continuing to work with emerging voices and experimental practices.

Aparajita Jain joined Nature Morte in 2013 as partner and director, contributing to the gallery’s continued development and international engagement. Today, the gallery operates across multiple registers—through its exhibition spaces, participation in international art fairs, and long-term collaborations with institutions. Nature Morte also undertakes production-led projects with international artists, working collaboratively to realise work locally. These projects have supported skill exchange, strengthened the production capacity in India, and reduced the environmental impact of large-scale exhibition production. 

Today, the gallery operates two exhibition spaces, one in New Delhi and one in Mumbai. A permanent space in the Colaba neighborhood of Mumbai opened in January 2024, in the iconic Dhanraj Mahal building. In August 2026 Nature Morte inaugurated a new exhibition space at A9 Gulmohar Park in central South Delhi. 

Alongside the gallery’s programme, Nature Morte established the Saat Saath Arts Foundation to extend its commitment to research, education, and shared working practices beyond the commercial gallery framework. Through an international curatorial grant, the sculpture park in Jaipur, and strategic institutional partnerships, the foundation nurtures learning opportunities and exchange, with the long-term goal of contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable arts landscape across India.