Miami–Mumbai Festival To Spotlight Shared Art Deco Histories

India-West Staff Reporter

MIAMI, FL — A new festival connecting Miami and Mumbai through architecture and design will mark the 100th anniversary of the Art Deco movement this fall.

Art Deco Alive! (ADA!), founded by Smiti Kanodia along with Salma Merchant Rahmathulla and Gayatri Hingorani Dewan, will feature a range of programs in both cities, including exhibitions, heritage walks, talks, and cultural events.

The initiative emphasizes the shared architectural histories of Miami and Mumbai, both cities with large and well-preserved Art Deco districts.

Miami’s Deco style emerged after the 1926 hurricane, blending nautical themes with pastel colors in South Beach, while Mumbai’s Deco, developed in the 1930s, combined international modernist influences with local motifs in neighborhoods such as Marine Drive and Churchgate.

“Having grown up in Mumbai and now living in Miami, I see Deco differently in each city,” said Dewan. “Miami’s Deco is visible and celebrated as part of everyday life, while Mumbai’s Deco is more embedded in the city’s pace, requiring attention to fully appreciate.”

“Art Deco Alive! connects Miami and Mumbai through shared design history and contemporary creativity,” said Kanodia. “Our goal is to bring attention to these architectural legacies while engaging communities on both sides of the globe.”

The festival will include twin-city museum exhibitions highlighting architects, conservationists, and designers from both continents.

Miami programming runs from October 8–12 and features guided tours, family activities, symposiums on urban conservation, and design-focused events.

Mumbai’s programming, from November 6–25, will include museum exhibits, Deco walks, film screenings, retail collaborations, and public events such as an open-air block party in Churchgate and a Jazz soirée.

Art Deco Alive! is organized in collaboration with institutions including the Miami Design Preservation League, Art Deco Mumbai Trust, The Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, and The Wolfsonian–FIU.

For details:  www.artdecoalive.org.