Jaipur may be called the Pink City, but its up-and-coming contemporary art scene is adding a whole new range of colors to the mix. From the ongoing Jaipur Art Week’s city-wide interventions to The Sculpture Park’s new edition at Jaigarh Fort, the city is making a case for itself as the next big thing in the global art circuit. And international players—collectors, institutions, and artists—are taking notice.

Installation view of Nishant Ghiya’s ‘Idhar Udhar’ against the backdrop of Jal Mahal, 2025. Source: Jaipur Art Week.

Jaipur Art Week: Historical Landmarks Meet Contemporary Art

The ongoing Jaipur Art Week 4.0, one of Public Arts Trust of India’s (PATI) flagship initiatives, is more than just an art exhibition—it’s about weaving contemporary art into the very fabric of the city. This year, the festival takes over some of Jaipur’s most iconic locations—Golcha Cinema, Hawa Mahal, Amrapali Museum, Jal Mahal, and Albert Hall Museum—transforming them into immersive art spaces.

Installation view of group show ‘Avato Bairo Baje’ at Jawar Kala Kendra, 2024. Source: Jaipur Art Week.

But Jaipur Art Week isn’t just a showcase; it’s a hands-on experience. Free workshops and interactive sessions led by artists like Kum Kum Fernando, Riaz Uddin, Vinayak Mehta, and Narendra Kumar Sain invite audiences to dive straight into the artistic process. Expect a sculpting workshop by Gaspard Combes, a massive installation at Albert Hall Museum (yes, you can actually climb it), and a major exhibition by Manisha Gera Baswani in collaboration with Gallery Espace, marking the opening of PATI’s new gallery space in Jaipur.

Sana Rezwan, founder of PATI and a strong advocate for emerging artists, has already added works by Jaipur Art Week participants such as Shubham Sharma, Bhimanshu Pandel, and Ayushi Patni to her personal collection. It’s a clear sign that Jaipur isn’t just nurturing exciting art—it’s sparking market interest, too.

Alicja Kawade, Superposition, 2024. Source: MASH

The Sculpture Park at Jaigarh Fort: New Horizons

A city known for its fortresses seems an unlikely venue for contemporary sculpture, but the 5th edition of The Sculpture Park proves otherwise. The project—helmed by Saat Saath Arts and the Jaipur Centre for Art—has moved to Jaigarh Fort, promising fresh ways to experience contemporary art in dialogue with history. Running from January 29 to October 15, this year’s edition, curated by Peter Nagy, brings together well known names like Subodh Gupta, LN Tallur, the late Latika Katt, and Parag Tandel.

The park’s premise is simple yet radical: place contemporary artworks in historic settings and see what conversations emerge. This juxtaposition—between Jaipur’s past and today’s experimental art—pushes both artists and viewers to reconsider the relationship between legacy and innovation.

Installation view of Hiroshi Sugimoto and Manjunath Kamath. Photo Credits: Lodovico Colli di Felizzano Source: Wallpaper*.

Jaipur Centre for Art: A Royal Seal of Approval

Art spaces in Jaipur are no longer confined to the fringes. The Jaipur Centre for Art (JCA), founded by HH Sawai Padmanabh Singh and Noelle Kadar, opened its doors in November last year, within the City Palace. A 2,600 sq. ft. exhibition space, JCA is more than just another gallery—it’s a statement that contemporary art belongs at the heart of Jaipur’s cultural identity.

The inaugural exhibition at JCA, ‘A New Way of Seeing’, curated by Peter Nagy, brings together works by Indian and international artists like Hiroshi Sugimoto, Dayanita Singh, and Anish Kapoor. These artists explore themes of memory, time, and illusion, offering fresh perspectives on how we perceive and engage with the world.

Prarthna Singh x The Palace Atelier, Jaipur Deco, 2025. Source: The Palace Atelier.

The Palace Atelier x Prarthna Singh: The Contemporary Turn

The contemporary shift in Jaipur isn’t limited to exhibitions and sculpture parks—it’s embedded in the way the city is reimagining its own narrative. The Palace Atelier, also housed within the City Palace and led by Princess Gauravi Kumari, is a prime example. Instead of treating Jaipur’s royal legacy as a static relic, it transforms the past into a site of active engagement. This approach finds a stunning expression in Jaipur Deco, a collaboration with visual artist Prarthna Singh, whose limited edition box frames capture the Art Deco movie theatres of the city.

The Global Spotlight on Rajasthan’s Art Scene

As Jaipur emerges as a contemporary art hub, institutions, collectors, and investors are seeing Rajasthan not just as a destination but as an ecosystem in the making. What’s driving this interest? Jaipur’s unique ability to blend historical context with innovative artistic expression. Beyond its romantic landscapes, the city offers a rare combination of tradition and experimentation that few other art capitals can match. As local artists gain recognition, institutions make space for new voices, and collectors expand their portfolios, it’s clear: this is more than a moment—it’s a movement. And Jaipur is the stage, not just the backdrop.

So, the next time someone asks where the next big art destination is, you can say—it’s been here all along.

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