During the Mumbai riots of 1992, there was a long canvas spread across the entrances of the open-air gymkhanas at Marine Drive, where MF Husain was painting the embroiled scenery as it happened—expressing his anguish at the ongoing turmoil," recalls Kalpana Shah, gallery director, Tao. "My friend Sangeeta Jindal rang me and suggested we go see him in action. Once there, when she saw how moved I was to see the great master immersed in work, she suggested I open an art gallery. As a conventional housewife raising her child and taking care of the home, I had no idea if this would work."

Shah's sea-facing gallery at Worli, completes 20 years, its iconic glass façade over time having showcased works that even passersby could view, unknowingly giving the public an introduction and glimpse into the latest in art. While her entrepreneur husband Pankaj Shah, and his team handled administrative responsibilities, Kalpana sharpened her creative vision. She remembers him telling his staff about her, "Bhabhi knows nothing about administration, she's creative. You will have to be particular about the finances to keep this ship afloat!"