India Art Fair CONCLUDES SUCCESSFUL 16th edition
India Art Fair (IAF) returned to New Delhi this February (2025) with its most ambitious edition yet, solidifying its position as a key event on the global art scene. Held from February 6th to 9th, the 16th IAF brought together a diverse range of galleries, collectors, institutions, artists, and designers, celebrating the dynamism of South Asian art while also attracting prominent international voices. A record 120 exhibitors participated, including 78 leading Indian and international galleries, alongside significant regional and global art institutions. This varied and carefully curated selection offered a wealth of discovery, showcasing a compelling mix of emerging and established talent from both the region and abroad. ‘India Art Fair 2025 was a particularly dynamic edition, with ambitious gallery presentations and rare offerings for the strong group of visiting collectors,’ notes Jaya Asokan, India Art Fair director. ‘We have hosted celebrated artists, gallerists and representatives from leading museums and institutions from across the world at the fair this year.’
IAF 2025 provided a platform for both established and emerging artists. Global art powerhouses like Galleria Continua presented works by major figures such as Anish Kapoor, Ai Weiwei, and Julio Le Parc. David Zwirner’s booth offered a diverse selection, including new and recent pieces by Huma Bhabha and Oscar Murillo, alongside historic works on paper by Paul Klee, Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Box, and an installation by Dan Flavin. Carpenters Workshop Gallery returned for its second year, showcasing design pieces by Nacho Carbonell, Maarten Baas, DRIFT, Vincenzo De Cotiis, and others. With 64 of the 78 participating galleries based in India, the fair emphasized its commitment to being a leading venue for discovering art and culture within the region. Mumbai’s Method gallery championed experimental and emerging artists from India and beyond, including the paintings of Indian-Australian artist Sid Pattni and Kunel Gaur’s stainless steel-framed works. New Delhi’s PHOTOINK highlighted works by prominent photographers, including Rajesh Vora’s Everyday Baroque series, which captures the everyday sculptural adornments of Punjab’s rooftop homes.
As a guest of BMW India, the fair’s long-term presenting partner, designboom had the opportunity to experience firsthand the range of modern and contemporary art from India and South Asia, as well as the fair’s rich program of special projects, curated sections, and international talks. Read on as we unpack some of the highlights from IAF’s 16th edition.
visitor at Chemould CoLab at India Art Fair 2025; above: IAF 2025 Facade | images courtesy of India Art Fair unless stated otherwise
visitors at Lisson Gallery’s booth
A VIBRANT DISPLAY OF OUTDOOR ART PROJECTS AT IAF 2025
India Art Fair 2025 featured a dynamic selection of outdoor art projects, showcasing large-scale works by a range of contemporary artists and designers. Among the more ambitious projects is a site-specific LED installation by the conceptual artist duo Claire Fontaine. Inspired by their acclaimed Foreigners Everywhere series, this new work, curated by Andrea Anastasio and produced by the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre, featured multilingual neon sculptures weaving South Asian influences across multiple locations in New Delhi. On the fairgrounds, Indian artist Asim Waqif repurposed a second-hand cement truck in MAKE-SHIFT, an interactive installation exploring improvisation, materiality, and industrial detritus. Supported by MASH, New Delhi artist Ayesha Singh designed the IAF Facade, drawing inspiration from women’s contributions to Indian architecture, from patronage in 1000 AD to contemporary female architects.
Asim Waqif’s MAKE-SHIFT installation | image © designboom
‘The Future is Born of Art’ BY presenting partner BMW india
As the long-term presenting partner of the India Art Fair, BMW India presented The Future is Born of Art, an annual commission designed to platform a promising young Indian artist on a global stage. For its fourth edition, the commission invited emerging artists to propose an immersive installation centered around the BMW iX1 LWB, MINI Countryman Electric, and BMW Motorrad CE 02 and CE 04, reflecting on the theme of ‘Ecocentrism.’ The winning project, Biolume by Non-Linear (Dennis Peter) and Cursorama (Yash Chandak), unveiled a 180-degree multimedia experience inspired by bioluminescent organisms. ‘Bioluminescence is nature’s sci-fi—a glowing, electric language that exists in harmony with its surroundings,’ explains Dennis Peter of Non-Linear. Biolume integrates generative design and biomimicry to immerse visitors in a dark environment of interactive screens that respond to their movements.
‘We take immense pride in our creative collaboration with the India Art Fair, as it continues to champion India’s diverse and thriving contemporary arts landscape,’ says Vikram Pawah, President and CEO of BMW Group India. ‘Our shared vision for a future that is both creative and sustainable is perfectly encapsulated by the latest edition of ‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission. This groundbreaking initiative explores how the harmonious integration of ecological and technological thinking can create a more sustainable, balanced, and regenerative world – all through the captivating lens of an artist’s vision.’
Dennis Peter and Yash Chandak with Jaya Asokan, India Art Fair director, and Prof. Dr. Thomas Girst, Head of Cultural Engagement, BMW Group | image courtesy BMW AG and India Art Fair
