India Art Fair officially launched IAF EDI+IONS Hyderabad on November 1-2, 2025, marking a strategic expansion of South Asia’s premier art platform into regional markets. The inaugural two-day showcase at RMZ The Loft brought together 11 leading Indian galleries—including three from Hyderabad—and three design studios, signaling the fair’s commitment to strengthening local art ecosystems beyond Delhi.
The initiative represents a significant shift in India Art Fair’s 16-year legacy as an annual Delhi-based event. IAF EDI+IONS extends the fair’s curatorial vision into city-specific showcases designed to nurture regional art hubs, with Hyderabad chosen as the launch city due to its expanding collector base and position as one of India’s fastest-growing economic centers.
“For over sixteen years, India Art Fair has been the leading platform to discover modern and contemporary art from India and South Asia,” the fair stated. “With IAF EDI+IONS, we are deepening our long-standing commitment to supporting artists, galleries and collectors beyond Delhi, bringing our curatorial framework into new contexts and ensuring that regional markets continue to thrive”.
Strategic Location and Partnerships
RMZ The Loft, situated in Hyderabad’s HITEC City area within the emerging cultural quarter and financial business district, provided the venue for this regional debut. The location choice reflects Hyderabad’s dual identity as a city steeped in history while simultaneously emerging as a technological and entrepreneurial hub with robust infrastructure and a thriving art and design ecosystem.
The inaugural edition was presented in partnership with BMW India, marking a decade of collaboration between the automotive company and India Art Fair. RMZ Foundation served as Institutional Partner, with RMZ The Loft as Venue Partner.
Participating Galleries and Artists
The showcase featured a curated selection spanning established names and emerging voices from across India. Participating galleries included Vadehra Art Gallery, Experimenter, Nature Morte, Project 88 in collaboration with Galerie 88, Gallery SKE, Emami Art, Gallery Maskara, and Gallery Espace.
Three Hyderabad-based galleries—Kalakriti Art Gallery, Srishti Art Gallery, and Dhi Contemporary—represented the city’s vibrant local art scene. Kalakriti presented works by emerging artists Dhruti Mahajan, Jignesh Panchal, Priyanka Aelay, and Sumanto Chowdhury, exploring themes from memory and eternity to urban spaces and architectural forms.
Vadehra Art Gallery, founded in 1987 and recognized for early support of modern masters including M.F. Husain, Ram Kumar, S.H. Raza, and Tyeb Mehta, showcased works by LN Tallur, Thukral & Tagra, Manish Nai, and Subodh Gupta. Project 88’s collaboration with Kolkata-based Galerie 88 displayed an intergenerational presentation featuring artists including Amitesh Shrivastava, Anupam Roy, K Laxma Goud, Mahesh Baliga, and Somnath Hore.
The design component featured Studio Renn, Ashiesh Shah, and Æquō, reflecting India Art Fair’s commitment to showcasing collectible design alongside contemporary art.
Hyderabad’s Emerging Art Market
The choice of Hyderabad for the inaugural IAF EDI+IONS reflects the city’s evolving status in India’s art landscape. Marked by entrepreneurial spirit and an expanding collector base, Hyderabad hosts a growing community of High Net-worth Individuals and design-forward professionals creating appetite for art acquisition.
“Hyderabad is the new Singapore and home to a lot of High Net-worth Individuals,” noted collector Anju Poddar. “There is a major shift that is happening. More people are interested in buying art and each day I receive a couple of calls regarding emerging artists”.
Rekha Lahoti, founder of Kalakriti Art Gallery, described the initiative as “a fabulous initiative, expanding horizons and bringing the contemporary art world closer to our city.” As the gallery celebrates its 23rd year, Lahoti emphasized their constant endeavor to promote art and culture in Hyderabad.
Broader Implications
The launch of IAF EDI+IONS comes as India Art Fair prepares for its 17th edition in Delhi from February 5-8, 2026, featuring a record 123 exhibitors. Fair Director Jaya Asokan, who has led India Art Fair since 2021, characterized the expansion as part of the fair’s evolution from a four-day annual event to a year-round presence across multiple cities.
“The 17th edition of India Art Fair marks a watershed moment for us, not just in scale, but in scope,” Asokan stated. “With a record number of exhibitors and a truly global lineup, India Art Fair continues to serve as the definitive meeting point for the international art community in South Asia”.
The initiative positions India Art Fair to engage directly with regional markets, offering galleries opportunities for exposure to new collector bases while providing local audiences access to curated contemporary art without traveling to Delhi. Entry to IAF EDI+IONS Hyderabad was by registration only, with viewing hours from 11:30 AM to 6 PM across both days.
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