A new art exhibition is set to make its debut this week in South Mumbai. HeartWorks 2026, an art-driven charity initiative, will be held on January 16 and 17 at IF.BE, Ballard Estate, bringing together artists, patrons and non-profits in a collective effort to support social causes.
Proceeds from the show will benefit over 10 women-led NGOs working across children’s welfare, senior care, women’s empowerment, animal protection, rural development, and environmental conservation.
Curated by Satyajit Dave and presented in partnership with IRAM Art and IF.BE, HeartWorks positions itself as a “circle of giving”, where artists donate a part of their work, patrons contribute through acquisition, and NGOs translate the funds into on-ground impact. Organisers have described its first edition as the launch of a long-term movement that blends creative freedom with purposeful philanthropy.
A New Dawn II by How Are You Feeling Studio and over 3500 students from across NGOs for the opening edition of Heartworks. (Photo: Special Arrangement)
Among the highlights of the exhibition is the India debut of New Dawn II, an interactive art experience by Mumbai-based Howareyoufeeling.studio founders Doyel Joshi and Neil Ghose Balser, created in collaboration with Grammy-nominated musician Anoushka Shankar. The immersive work adds a multi-sensory dimension to the exhibition, encouraging reflection and emotional engagement alongside visual art.
For Sheth-Kapadia, HeartWorks began as a deeply personal idea. “For my 50th birthday, I wanted to find a powerful way of giving back,” she said. “Seeing this first edition come alive has shown me how generous the world can be when we create with purpose.”
The Rest – Jagannath Panda. (Photo: Special Arrangement)
Co-founder Rachana Darda echoed the sentiment, describing HeartWorks as “not just a fundraiser, but an offering, an invitation to be part of something bigger than ourselves.” Shilpa Bhagat added that the initiative reflects a shared commitment to empathy and tangible change, particularly for women-led organisations.
