MarketYard Studio (founded 2019) is a contemporary artist studio based in Pune, India, led by Yash Shah. Their work explores themes related to sports, competition, and play, examining the structures and dynamics of races, games, and contests. While these competitive environments often impose clear start and end points, along with rigid scoring systems, the studio investigates how such frameworks shape the experiences of participants. Despite the polarity and restrictions inherent in competition, their practice highlights the enduring hope for improvement that drives athletes—whether through the euphoria of victory or the motivation found in defeat.

 

The studio uses the concept of play as a counterpoint to competition, emphasizing its open-ended and exploratory nature. Without fixed goals or constraints, play offers a sense of freedom that contrasts with the structure of regimented sports. Reflecting Yash Shah’s personal experience as a sportsman, the studio’s work integrates themes of discipline, focus, and perseverance onto the canvas. Through these artworks, Marketyard Studio encourages viewers to embrace the spirit of play, finding balance between the intensity of competition and the joy of unstructured engagement. The studio has exhibited at the India Art Fair (2024) and at Gallery Futures, New Delhi (2024)