Mahrukh Tarapor | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1946 (age 78–79) Mumbai, India |
| Occupation | Art consultant |
| Awards | Padma Shri |
Mahrukh Tarapor is an Indian museum professional and art consultant,[1] known for her scholarship in museum art, especiallyIslamic art.[2] She was honoured by theGovernment of India, in 2013, by bestowing on her thePadma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for her contributions to the field of art.[3]
Mahrukh Tarapor is one of the most widely respected museum professionals in the world, saysPhilippe de Montebello, former Metropolitan Museum of Art director, and talks about herdiplomatic skills, knowledge and energy.[1]
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Mahrukh Tarapor was born in Mumbai to aParsi family, in 1946.[1] She secured a doctorate fromHarvard University and started her career by joiningMetropolitan Museum, New York, in 1983. She, over the course of a decade, rose through ranks to reach the level of the Associate Director for Exhibitions.[4] During her stint at the Met Museum, she negotiated with the governments of Spain, Morocco and Egypt which led to the exhibition ofAl-Andalus: The Art of Islamic Spain, staged inAlhambra in Granada, the conservation of theMinbar from the Kutubiyya Mosque[5] at theBadi Palace,Marrakesh[4] and the setting up of exhibition galleries at theSaint Catherine's Monastery,Sinai.[4][6] She is also credited with efforts to raise loans for many intercultural exhibitions such as theGlory ofByzantium (1997),Byzantium: Faith and Power(2004),Art of the First Cities (2003) andBeyondBabylon (2009).[1][6]
Tarapor was promoted as the Director, International Affairs, at the Met's international affairs office at Geneva, in 2006, and worked in that capacity till 2009, when she retired after 25 years of service to continue her career as a consultant.[7] During this period, she was in regular touch with the governments of many European countries, the Middle East, Australia and Asia, for the exchange and dissemination of information.[1] Mahrukh Tarapor has also contributed to the organization of several international art exhibitions such as:
After retiring from Met Museum, she was offered the post as the Head of theNational Museum of India, an offer she, reportedly, declined, opting for a career as a consultant.[10] In 2012, theMuseum of Fine Arts, Houston, hired the consultative services of Dr. Tarapor, in the areas of exchange of art, staff and scholarly study.[2] She is also attending to the expansion of Islamic Arts programmes of MFAH as also in procuring loans for various MFAH exhibitions, utilizing her connections.[2][11]
Tarapor lives in Mumbai and Geneva, attending to her duties as a consultant for theMuseum of Fine Arts, Houston,Museo del Prado and her assignments as a consultant to the Government of India.[1]
Mahrukh Tarapor has served in many positions of importance. Apart from her career postings as the associate Director of Exhibitions and the Director of International Affairs with the Metropolitan Museum, New York, she has also held the posts of:
Mahrukh Tarapor has been honoured by many governments such asFrance,Morocco andSpain.[4] In 2013, the Government of India honoured her with the fourth highest civilian award,Padma Shri.[3]
Tarapor has published two works on Islamic and Indian arts.[15][16]
