INDIA ART FAIR 2025

I think of art as the highest level of creativity. To me, it is one of the greatest sources of enjoyment.” – David Rockefeller.

The INDIA ART FAIR (IAF)2025  presented in collaboration with BMW  was held from 6 th -9 th February at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in Okhla, New Delhi.  This was the 16th edition of  the IAF. It was a breathtaking event in style & substance, with a wide range of art forms being exhibited.  Exhibitors & international institutions from around the world were well represented. Diverse & vibrant creations  from artists provoked one’s  senses and curiosity. In addition, talk shows, workshops & performances engaged the audiences . Further, parallel activities  allied to the art show were held at several museums & galleries across the Capital. In that sense, Delhi was enveloped in art for those days.

The INDIA ART FAIR has become a must-visit event for art enthusiasts, collectors and even curious onlookers.As a matter of fact, this year’s edition was  even more spectacular, with a diverse selection of art pieces.The fair featured art from  over 100 galleries around the globe, showcasing a variety of art forms  such as  paintings, sculptures & installations.Further, design studios participating in the Art Fair showcased the latest trends .

Textile Art

One of the highlights of the fair was the  brilliant Textile Art section, which  featured traditional  Jain Chhods  from the  Sarita Handa Archive . They showcased  with an exhibition titled “ Ancient Moderns—The Art of Jain Chhods .” This gave the viewer an opportunity to witness India’s cultural history through textile artistry. Heavy zardozi & Marori  embroidery on velvet textiles were  outstandingly beautiful.  For example, they showcased pure cultural & mythological humans, animals & stories.  The intricate craftsmanship and the rich cultural heritage behind each piece was magnificent. They were restored pieces that looked practically new.

 Design @ India Art Fair

In addition, the Design section, which was a recent addition, was  curated by Alaiia Gujral . It was a sparsely  & charmingly decorated design space  with emerging Indian designers being exhibited.. There was Ashiesh Sha’s sculptures, art inspired by totems from Nagaland, Jaipur Rugs – with carpets & so on.

Brass & craft  exhibits by Vikram Goyal, Gunjan Gupta’s  crafts inspired by religious folk paintings from Rajasthan & so on.

Rado -Art of watch making

Yet another show stopper was the Rado DiaStarOriginal. Adrian Bosshard, Global CEO of Rado, alongside visionary designer Tej Chauhan unveiled a new Rado  watch collection.Thus , the India Art Fair 2025 set the stage for a groundbreaking fusion of art and watchmaking .

Galleries @INDIA ART FAIR

Other prominent galleries were the Mumbai Gallery Tarq , The Madras  Art Gallery,Vadhera Art Gallery, Dhoomimal Gallery, and  DAG (Delhi Art Gallery). The Atul Dodiya shutter  ‘Weeping Ancestors”  got a lot of attention at our booth,” says Roshini Vadehra, director of Vadehra Art Gallery, Delhi.

MF Hussain

Jayasri Burman

International Art galleries such as Galleria Continua from Paris, Contemporary Art  Lisson from Los Angeles &  Aicon  Contemporary Art Gallery from New York were all present. Further, David Zwirner, who  is a  German art dealer and who  is the owner of Art Galleries in New York, London, Paris,LA& Hong Kong was also there.

Kanchana Chitra Manas

The Book of Gold: the Kanchana Chitra Ramayana of Banaras  was an interesting piece of work. This  was a digitised  presentation of  the pictorial version  of Tulsidas’ Ramayana.Tulsidas is said to have written the Ramayan in Banares.  The story of Lord Rama was digitally illustrated using using real gold figures.This was  done by Udit Narayan Singh, from the royal court of Banaras. He  had artists illustrate Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas. In other words, it was  an unusual depiction of Ramayana. The entire 1000 pages were animated.  This  was an  interesting way to make the Ramayana available to a large audience.

ART & Cinema

Masha Art’s “James Bond to Bachchan” booth & Jenny Bhatt’s display featured AI, VR& AR  amalgamating cinema & art. The idea was to  capture the golden age of cinema & the enduring impact of two of the world’s most important artists.

Indian MASTERS@India Art Fair

The India ART FAIR 2025  also paid tribute to some of India’s most celebrated Masters.For example, the works of MF Hussain, Souza, Raza, Bakre, Jamini Roy  and Ara were all on display . This was a rare opportunity for art lovers to view and enjoy their diverse styles & technique.

Classical, modern & contemporary  Art is a vast subject with no limits to shape, form, or imagination. As Aristotles is to have said “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”

Religion & Art

The appeal of religion has made churches, temples & other religious institutions the repository of art, architecture &design. They were central to the community. The Vatican, with Michael Angelo’s paintings  & Raphael’s tapestry, the Notre Dame in Paris ,The Last Supper mural are all masterpieces. TheTemple in Tanjore, Ajanta Ellora Buddhist caves &  the Jain Temples are all Unesco sites. They stand tall synthesising art, architecture & design  .

To conclude, the India ART FAIR 2025 was not just an exhibition, but a celebration of India’s rich artistic & cultural heritage.  Further, it has given people the ability to explore, enjoy & elevate their experiences. It is a platform for artists, collectors, and enthusiasts to appreciate the beauty and diversity of  Art.

Boddhisatva Padmapani Mural

“Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso

Let us all try and activate the child in us by exploring ,experiencing  & evolving with ART.