From New Jersey to Jaipur to Boston: Laura Weinstein’s Journey Into the World of Indian Art at the Museum of Fine Arts

BOSTON–What inspires someone to dedicate a career to exploring, preserving and sharing the artistic traditions of cultures across the world? For Laura Weinstein, Ananda Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, that journey began with a growing fascination with Indian art and a formative experience living in Jaipur, India.

In an engaging video interview, Weinstein reflects on how her interest in Indian, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Islamic art developed, including a semester spent in Jaipur, where she lived with a Muslim family. The experience offered her a personal connection to the culture and traditions she would later devote her professional life to studying and interpreting.

To watch the full interview, please click here, or on the image below.

She also discusses the extraordinary depth of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s holdings, which include one of the largest and oldest collections of Indian art in the country. Through her curatorial work, Weinstein has helped bring these artistic traditions to wider audiences, offering new perspectives on their history, cultural significance and continuing relevance.

Since joining the MFA in 2009, Weinstein has played an important role in transforming the presentation of its galleries and developing exhibitions that make global artistic traditions more accessible and meaningful to visitors. Her curatorial achievements include Divine Color, an exhibition that offered audiences fresh ways to experience and understand the art of South Asia. She is also a respected scholar and author of Arts of South Asia, further extending her contribution to the study and appreciation of the region’s artistic heritage.

During the interview, Weinstein also shares an exciting look ahead to 2028, when the MFA is planning an exhibition exploring Indian wedding art and traditions. The subject promises a fascinating exploration of the art, rituals, symbolism and cultural expressions associated with one of life’s most significant celebrations.

Weinstein’s work represents the very spirit of the 2026 Art & Culture Visionary Award. She is being recognized for her leadership in preserving, interpreting and sharing the rich artistic heritage of South Asian and Islamic cultures—and for helping audiences develop a deeper appreciation of the connections between art, history and human experience.

Her story is not simply about a remarkable museum collection or a distinguished curatorial career. It is about curiosity, cultural exchange and the power of art to bring people closer to traditions and perspectives beyond their own.

Watch the video interview with Laura Weinstein to hear her story in her own words, discover what first drew her to Indian art, learn more about the MFA’s remarkable collection and get a glimpse of the exciting exhibition planned for 2028.