For years, I dreamed of creating something that would honor Indian creativity on a global stage.
I’ve been deeply shaped by my Indian heritage, and I knew that if I ever brought a cultural experience to life, it had to reflect the full richness and strength of our artistic legacy. That dream became reality on December 3rd, when I hosted Art From the Eye of India during Miami Art Week at the iconic Shelborne in Miami Beach.
The goal was not only to create a beautiful evening, but to carve out space for Indian designers, performers, and voices to take center stage in a city buzzing with international energy. I wanted the experience to feel cinematic yet soulful, bold yet rooted in heritage. To bring this to life, I worked closely with my co-hosts—fashion designer Masaba Gupta and poet Rupi Kaur—two visionary women whose work has shaped the global perception of Indian creativity. Meanwhile, SA Dance Company, founded by the brilliant Payal Kadakia, brought movement to the night with a performance that felt electric and reverent at once.
With décor by Prashe that layered warm candlelight with lush florals and intricate textures, the space glowed with intention. A-Game PR helped lead the charge behind the scenes, alongside Lombardo, Epic Events, and Product of Culture. Together, we shaped an experience that felt deeply personal, unapologetically Indian, and entirely unforgettable.
The Vision Behind the Experience
Every detail of Art From the Eye of India was shaped by a desire to celebrate identity, artistry, and legacy without compromise. For me, this was not about hosting another event during Art Week. This was about claiming space. Miami, with its multicultural pulse and creative electricity, felt like the perfect city to hold this kind of evening. And the Shelborne, with its timeless glamour and oceanfront setting, gave us the backdrop to make the moment feel expansive and alive.
I curated the experience with women at the forefront, not by accident but by necessity. Masaba Gupta, Rupi Kaur, and Payal Kadakia each hold a rare kind of clarity and confidence in their respective art forms. They have not only excelled professionally, but have brought their Indian roots with them into every room they enter. That is exactly the kind of representation I wanted the world to witness. This event wasn’t about nostalgia. It was about progress. About honoring where we come from, while boldly stepping into where we are headed.
With every performance, every word, and every look that walked the runway, the message was clear. Indian creativity is powerful, modern, and worthy of reverence in every space, from gallery halls to global design weeks. I did not want this night to feel like a presentation. I wanted it to feel like a declaration, and while I was watching the room lean in so fully, I knew we had created something lasting.
This may have been the first of its kind, but it did not feel like a beginning. It felt like a homecoming.
—NINA MAGON
Masaba Gupta’s Fashion Showcase
The fashion show led by Masaba Gupta was a pivotal moment of the evening. Masaba is one of the most influential names in Indian fashion today, known for her signature blend of bold prints, contemporary silhouettes, and unapologetic storytelling. Her work honors the traditional language of Indian garments while pushing them into new territory. For Art From the Eye of India, she unveiled twenty entirely new looks that spoke to the evolution of Indian style with clarity and power.
Models moved through the space wearing flowing silks, sculptural blouses, and color palettes that echoed the vibrancy of Indian culture while holding a modern edge. There were no tired tropes, no clichés. Masaba’s designs felt fresh and fierce. Each piece carried emotion and history, yet landed firmly in the present. That is the kind of duality that makes her work so electric. It was couture with a cultural backbone, fashion that felt deeply connected and wildly expressive.
What moved me most was how the audience responded. Guests from across the world—collectors, curators, designers, and creative leaders—watched every look as if they were witnessing a performance. Because in a way, they were. This was not fashion for the sake of spectacle. This was storytelling stitched into every seam. Masaba reminded us all that design can be a vehicle for voice and in that moment, hers rang beautifully clear.
Rupi Kaur’s Emotional Performance
Rupi Kaur’s reading brought a completely different rhythm to the night, and one that left the entire room still. Her voice carries a kind of quiet strength that doesn’t ask for attention—it commands it. Known globally for her raw, resonant poetry, Rupi has become a literary force. She’s not only helped bring poetry back into cultural focus, but has done so by embracing vulnerability and heritage in equal measure.
She shared a mix of poems, including one that many in the audience knew by heart, along with a new piece she debuted for the first time. Hearing it live, surrounded by people deeply moved by her words on what it means to be a woman, was something I’ll never forget. The emotions in the room were palpable. You could feel the weight of what she was saying land in real time, creating a shared moment of reflection, beauty, and connection.
What makes Rupi so extraordinary is her ability to speak plainly while still evoking deep emotion. She is a bridge between generations, between worlds, between identities. To have her perform at Art From the Eye of India felt like a full-circle moment for everything I envisioned. Her work exemplifies the kind of artistry I believe deserves global platforms and her presence, both powerful and gentle, brought that belief to life in a way that words alone can’t quite capture.
A Powerful Movement by SA Dance Company
The performance by SA Dance Company closed the evening with a burst of energy and grace that left the audience breathless. Founded by Payal Kadakia, who is also known as the founder of ClassPass, the company fuses classical Indian dance forms with contemporary choreography. It’s a blend that feels incredibly dynamic and entirely rooted in respect for tradition.
The dancers moved in unison through choreographed sequences that honored centuries-old forms, yet their movements felt current, urgent, and alive. This was not background entertainment. It was a vital part of the narrative. It gave visual form to everything Art From the Eye of India set out to do. We weren’t simply nodding to culture, we were fully immersed in it. Through movement and rhythm that pulsed through the room, SA Dance Company opened the evening with a performance that set the tone with clarity and intention.
Payal’s vision has always been about elevating Indian dance in spaces that don’t always make room for it, which is why having her company perform meant so much to me.
A Celebration that Lives On
Bringing the Art From the Eye of India to life was one of the most fulfilling creative experiences of my career. But it was also an emotional one. This event wasn’t designed to be a fleeting spectacle, but it was built to spark something lasting—to open doors, expand narratives, and remind the world that India holds a powerful place in the global creative landscape.
I’m grateful to every partner and guest who believed in this vision. UBS, TAAF, and Product of Culture helped give this moment the support it deserved. Masaba and Rupi brought their genius and their hearts, and the SA Dance Company moved all of us in a way that can only be described as soul-stirring.
This night was never about being seen for the sake of it. It was about being seen with integrity, with brilliance, and with pride. The Art From the Eye of India is now part of Miami Art Week history, but its impact will continue to ripple outward.
I’m excited for what comes next because this is only the beginning.
