Established in 1946, it was a site of artistic significance and housed Gallery 59. It also had studios and workshops that were frequented by artists such as Ebrahim Alkazi, Meenakshi Raja, Ravi Shankar, VS Gaitonde, MF Husain, Nasreen Mohamedi and Nalini Malani. The institute’s building was formerly the bungalow of Bhulabhai Desai, an eminent Congress leader during the nationalist movement and a barrister. Following his death, a trust was consolidated to convert the bungalow into the Bhulabhai Desai Institute.