First Edition of India Art Festival begins in Hyderabad

The India Art Festival (IAF), a premier contemporary art fair launched its Hyderabad edition for the first time today at Kings Kohinoor (Crown) Convention, near PV Narsimha Rao Expressway. The festival kicked off with an exclusive VIP preview from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm for art lovers and buyers.

Honourable Minister for Youth Services, Tourism and Culture of Telangana Jupally Krishna Rao inaugurated the India Art Festival along with Padma Shri K Laxma Goud, senior artist; art connoisseur & authr Anju Poddar and art collector Parvathi Reddy.

Minister Jupally Krishna Rao visited all the stalls and expressed his delight over the quality of works. He said, “Hyderabad is one of the most happening cities and it is a matter of pride that such events are more successful here. It is important for such events to happen and our state government will support them.”

“I plan to buy few of the works,” he added.

The Hyderabad edition features 30 art galleries showcasing the works of 50 master artists, alongside over 200 mid-career and emerging artists. Visitors had theh opportunity to see a diverse array of over 3,500 paintings and sculptures across various mediums, displayed in 100 booths.

The inaugural day also had a Sitar recital by artist, musician Sanjay Ashtaputre accompanied by Vijay Panchal on table with live painting demo by artist Vittal Mupiddy and screening of the film – ‘The Eternal Canvas: A 12,000 Year Journey Through Indian Art.’

Popular artist, musician Sanjay Ashtaputre shares, “My works have been displayed by galleries in New Delhi and Mumbai from several years at the India Art Festival. I am happy it has come to Hyderabad my home this year. Additionally I have given my sitar recital here at the festival on the inaugural day. I wish this wonderful festival continues to come to Hyderabad every year.”

Rajendra Patil, Founder & Managing Director of India Art Festival says, “Here you will not just get to see masters and established artists; you will also get to see young upcoming artists who are teeming with unbridled form of creativity. Art buyers will get to see new, innovative artists that also include small-cap, mid-cap, gems who have capacity to become large-cap. It is also like a talent hunt. India Art Festival has been happening in Mumbai for 14 years, in Delhi for the last 10 years, and we completed 4 editions in Bangalore. In Hyderabad, we have 30 art galleries from different cities and rom Singapore as well and 280 artists from all over participating in the debut edition of India Art Festival. Art enthusiasts come and are inspired with all kinds of art on display under one roof.”

Dr Snehalata Prasad, Hyderabad based artist, sculptor shares, “Before this edition the festival was successfully running in Mumbai, New Delhi. It is a beautiful platform that brings together young and senior artists from India and internationally too. Here visitors, art lovers, buyers and students come to meet artists and you get to witness emerging trends in contemporary art space.”

Works of Hyderabad based artists like Madhu Kuruwa, Maredu Ramu, Murali Thigulla, Sarang Jaltare, Moshe Dayan, Kantha Reddy, Saraswati Kavula, Jaya Baheti and senior artists Laxma Gowd, Laxman Aelay, Ramana Reddy, Shankar Pamarthy, Ramesh Gorjala & various emerging artists were on display at the art festival.

The participating art galleries in the Hyderabad edition include Artsbreeze Art Gallery, Sneha Arts, Hyderabad Art Society from Hyderabad, Charvi Art Gallery, Sara Arakkal Galerie rom Bengaluru, ArtHut, Gallery Pioneer, Eminent Art Gallery, Pastel Tales, Studio3 Art Gallery, Uchaan rom New Delhi & NCR, Beyond the Canvas, Bouquet of Art Gallery, House of Emerge, Dev Mehta Art Gallery, Mriya Arts, Traditions Art Gallery, Kalastrot, Rigveda Art Gallery, Studio Pankaj Bawdekar, The Bombay Art Society, Tela Art Gallery from Mumbai, and Gnani Arts (Singapore), Exclusive Art Gallery (Baroda), The Indian Art Cottage (Kolkata), Canvas Dreams Art Gallery (Nagpur), M Narayan Studio (Pune).

The festival will continue on June 8 and 9 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.