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APRE (pronounced “App-reh” . "ऐप्रे")

APRE is a contemporary art gallery based in Colaba, Mumbai, dedicated to advancing rigorous artistic practice and critical discourse. Founded by Prerna S. M. Jain, an alumna of Christie’s Education, New York, the gallery was formalised in 2022 and works with emerging and established artists with urgent voices.

APRE has since expanded into a new space at Arshiwala Mansion, a heritage building in Colaba. The gallery presents work by South Asian artists, including practitioners from across South Asia. Its programme extends beyond Mumbai through curated projects in New York and New Delhi, alongside participation in key art fairs including the India Art Fair.

Grounded in research and cultural responsiveness, APRE is recognised for its exhibitions and commitment to long-term engagement with artists, collectors, and institutions.

Our initiatives include WARC+ (a research fellowship on underrepresented women artists); the Emerging Practice Grant; and long-form intensive programmes in curation (Front Matter) and performance (Corpus), led by leading voices in the field.

Under Public Field, our public programme, we host The Forum, Lumens (our film and moving image programme) and Image Makers, a series of one-on-one conversations with practitioners across the visual and creative industries.

Through its exhibitions and research-driven initiatives, APRE Art House contributes actively to shaping contemporary art discourse within South Asia and its wider global contexts. Since its founding, APRE Art House has presented over 29 exhibitions and it’s new, expanded space is now open.

Prerna S.M. Jain (Founder/Director)

Prerna S.M. Jain is the Director of APRE Art House, Mumbai. She holds a Master’s degree in Modern and Contemporary Art and Its Markets from Christie’s Education, New York, and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from Rachana Sansad, Mumbai.
Her formative training spans France and the United States, including studies under Ted Seth Jacobs in Vihiers and at institutions such as the Florence Academy of Art, the Art Students League of New York, the National Academy, The New School and Node Center for Curatorial Studies.
Prior to founding APRE Art House, Jain was affiliated with leading art institutions and galleries internationally, including Christie’s Auction House, New York, HK Art Advisory, New York, Van Der Plas Gallery, New York and several others. Her curatorial and critical practice is informed by sustained engagement with art history and contemporary discourse, further enriched by a diploma in Indian Aesthetics from Jnanapravaha, Mumbai.
Jain has contributed as an art critic to publications including New York ArtnewsThe Daily Star, and Kashmir Reader. She is deeply committed to arts education and regularly lectures at institutions such as Sir J. J. School of Art, MIT Institute of Design (Pune), Somaiya School of Design, and FLAME University. She served as Visiting Faculty in Art Business at Sir J. J. School of Art (2024–25) and has initiated several research-driven learning and fellowship programmes through APRE Art House.

Outside her professional practice, she pursues ice climbing, mountaineering and pottery.