While artistic talent in India seems to grow exponentially, the financial support received by young artists entering the domain has remained limited. The Inlaks Fine Art Awards, one of the country's premier Art Awards, supports young artists as they transition from educational institutions to the country’s art scene.

From top row (L-R) Biswajit Thakuria, Ritika Sharma, Swapna Haldar, Akartha Haldar and Vanshika Babbar.

The Foundation supports four to five artists, selected by an eminent jury, for a year with a monetary grant. It also enables the artists to participate in a one month residency programme in India.

The 2025 awardees are Akartha Haldar, Biswajit Thakuria, Ritika Sharma, Swapna Haldar, and Vanshika Babbar. This year the jury comprised Sheela Gowda, Sahej Rahal, Sanchayan Ghosh and Amita Malkani.

Jury members Sanchayan Ghosh, Sahej Rahal and Amita Malkani at the ceremony.

The evening began with a welcome address by Priyanka Varma, Country Director of the Foundation, who shared the mission of the Foundation, to enable and support young Indian talent across various opportunities and discipline. She reiterated the Chairperson, Azad Shivdasani's vision and the importance of supporting art and emerging artists in a thriving democracy

Country Director, ISF, Priyanka Varma sharing about the arts opportunities at the Foundation.

This was followed by a virtual showcase by Shaheen Ahmed, the Inlaks - Asia Art Archive Grantee for 2023-34. Shaheen presented a short excerpt from a hybrid feature film he is currently developing, titled 'A Sea All Waves', based on his ongoing project delving into the Sufi cosmos of the Malabar Coast and Lakshadweep Islands. An engaging Q & A with the audience followed, anchored by Sneha Raghavan, Head of Asia Art Archive in India.

Shaheen Ahmed presenting his ongoing work, a hybrid feature film titled 'A Sea All Waves'

The promising young Fine Art awardees then gave the audience a glimpse into their practices and plans for the year ahead through presentations.

Akartha Haldar spoke of his multidisciplinary approach, assembling forms and narratives that document socio-political absences and disappearances.

Akartha Haldar, Fine Art Awardee 2025.

Biswajit Thakuria offered a fresh glimpse into landscapes as intricate, multi-layered phenomena, aiming to revisit significant events from Assam’s past by engaging with archival memories, both public and private.

Jury member Sahej Rahal introducing Biswajit Thakuria, Fine Art Awardee 2025.

Ritika Sharma introduced her explorations into the intricate dynamics of human behavior and the latent politics of local spaces, uncovering layers of meaning within seemingly mundane practices.

Ritika Sharma, Fine Art Awardee 2025 and Jury member Amita Malkani

Swapna Halder shared about her practice, which has now transformed from an individualistic way of expression to community engagement, reflected in work that resonates with shared experience and hope.

Swapna Halder, Fine Art Awardee 2025 being welcomed by Jury member Amita Malkani.

Vanshika Babbar discussed her practice, which engages with the political dimensions of subjective formations, observing the multiple acts, performances and operations of power in interpersonal relationships, in an attempt to interrogate mundanity while simultaneously trying to find redemption in it. 

Jury member Sanchayan Ghosh introducing Vanshika Babbar, Fine Art Awardee 2025.

The Awardees then had a chance to meet the past Inlaks Alumni at the reception that followed, sparking interesting conversations and connections. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be featuring each of the Awardees and offering a closer look at their work.

The captivated audience.

Meanwhile, enjoy a glimpse of the event through some photos in the carousel below

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Photo and Video Credits: Kwantum Photoz