An art lover's guide to the Jaipur Literature Festival 2025

The ultimate cheat sheet on what to listen to, see, and shop at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2025 if you love art.
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Courtesy of Jaipur Art Week

The Jaipur Literature Festival, which began in 2006 with just a few dozen odd attendees, has now hosted nearly 2,000 speakers and over a million bibliophiles from around the globe. The five-day festival, starting this year on 30th January, is regarded as "Sahitya ka Kumbh" (the grand congregation of literature) and "the greatest literary show on Earth". Over 18 years, JLF has evolved into much more than a gathering for books and book lovers. Today, it is a nucleus for fashion trends, a showcase for indie, folk, and classical musicians, and an incredible platform for painters and artists to display their talents.

Courtesy of JLF

Reflecting on the festival's art legacy, Sanjoy Roy, Festival Producer and Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, says, “The Jaipur Literature Festival has always been a wellspring of creative expression, offering a canvas for diverse art forms and artists from across India. The festival strongly believes in the transformative power of the arts and fosters connection by celebrating books, words, ideas, and an array of artistic traditions. We showcase the richness of traditional and contemporary art by bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds, reflecting not just geographic variety but also a range of disciplines and artistic expressions.”

The festival is as much a haven for artisans as for authors. Anubhav Nath, the festival's art advisor, has curated a range of visual experiences that amplify the voices of Indigenous artists while celebrating artistic innovation in 2025. Here's the AD's go-to guide for everything artsy—what to listen to, what to see, and where to shop, from inspiring art installations to the trendiest handmade finds.

Where to Look

Across the Venue

Art permeates both the background and the foreground of the Jaipur Literature Festival, transforming The Clarks Amer Hotel into a vibrant spectrum of colours and creativity. The venue's décor is a consistent tribute to traditional crafts deeply rooted in the culture of Rajasthan. Over the years, the festival has featured decorative elements such as puppets, origami, mirrorwork umbrellas, and terracotta pots along the walkway to the festival, nodding to local artisans and creating Instagram-worthy photo opportunities.

Art Installations

Courtesy of JLF

The venue features several art installations. For the Jayshree Periwal International school, the festival has been providing a global platform to budding artists to showcase their work for years. Anubhav Nath says, “We have been actively programming fine arts at JLF for over 10 years and have presented Indigenous and mainstream urban contemporary artists. We try to have a live art component, as it is interactive and inclusive."

  • The Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Trust: A long-standing festival collaborator, the Trust will present innovative artworks created by students and art groups across Rajasthan. These installations will reimagine the state's cultural and monumental heritage.
  • Gond Artist Ram Singh Urveti: As the Artist in Residence, Ram Singh Urveti, one of the masters of contemporary Gond art, will unveil a specially commissioned 8 x 12 foot painting at the festival's Durbar Hall venue. He will also create live artwork during the festival, offering attendees an intimate look at Gond art in the making.
  • Vicky Roy: The renowned photographer who has explored all 28 states and 8 union territories of India will showcase over 20 impactful images from his Ability in Disability series. This collection documents the lives of individuals with disabilities across India, celebrating their strength and perseverance.
  • Veer Munshi: An award-winning artist, Veer Munshi, a native of Kashmir, creates profoundly personal work that reflects Kashmiri turmoil and anguish. Munshi will present a striking installation at the festival's entry point inspired by Kashmir's traditional papier-mâché and kalamkari motifs. This artwork explores themes of resilience, healing, and identity. Munshi says, “My work focuses on healing the physical and emotional scars of conflict. Through symbolism and imagery, it reflects resilience and Kashmir’s enduring spirit, offering space for reflection and reconciliation.”

Festival Bazaar

Courtesy of JLF

The Festival Bazaar at JLF is a vibrant, must-visit space for handmade and artistic products. Think fashion accessories, garments, footwear, home décor, jewellery, and even stationery—all infused with an intrinsic artistic value. Whether you're a collector or just window shopping, these are a few must-visit stalls for art lovers this year:

  • Adi Ujala: A Delhi-based organisation that works with individuals with disabilities. Its Ujala block-printing unit creates handmade paper products, providing skill development and retail training opportunities for adults with disabilities.
  • Anam Husain: This Design Studio incorporates traditional Indian craft techniques such as block printing, marble painting, tie-and-dye, and hand-weaving into its garment designs.
  • Fatfatiya: A fashion brand that offers Rajasthani art, architecture, and culture with a contemporary twist. Its offerings include fashion bags, wallets, wall art, and handmade notebooks.
  • Khwabidah: Specializes in resin-based designs, including mobile phone covers, jewellery, and home décor. Its products, infused with natural dried flowers, are the most sought-after.

Sessions on Art at JLF

Courtesy of JLF
  • The Economics of Art: Policy, Innovation, and Inclusion will bring together an illustrious panel, including Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State of the UAE; Scott McDonald, CEO of the British Council; Gary Tinterow, Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and Max Hollein, CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Moderated by Sanjoy K. Roy, the session will explore government initiatives, funding, and public-private partnerships in shaping sustainable creative economies, with insights on cultural innovation and preservation.
  • The Ajanta Caves: Ancient Buddhist Paintings: Art historian Benoy K. Behl will discuss the Ajanta cave paintings in their true colours and detail in conversation with William Dalrymple. The book has been in constant reprint for over 25 years and is among the best-selling books on Indian art history in the world. As Behl says, "It has been a long journey since the DG, ASI wrote to me, 'You have conquered the darkness,' when I photographed Ajanta in low light. Jaipur Literature Festival is now hosting my digital restoration, which helps to understand the true quality of Ajanta and significantly alters the known history of painting in India and the world."
  • The Upside-Down World: Meetings with the Dutch Masters, and It’s Dutch to Me, presented in collaboration with the Embassy of the Netherlands will be hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Benjamin Moser. Both sessions will take audiences on a journey into Dutch art and culture. Moser and Iranian-Dutch author Kader Abdolah will explore the enduring legacy of Dutch art and language.
  • Art Book Launches: The festival will feature book launches on art, including Devi and Her Avataras, which explores the feminine force in Indian mythology, and The Third Eye of Indian Art, which examines the spiritual dimensions of Indian art.
  • The Ojas Art Award: The segment will celebrate two books: Hymns of Medhini by acclaimed graphic novelist and artist Abhishek Singh and Another Master: Ram Singh Urveti, which highlights the extraordinary artistic journey of Gond artist Ram Singh Urveti and honours his contributions to Indigenous art traditions. The Ojas Art Award 2025 will honour Jaipur-based miniature artists Vinita Sharma and Ajay Sharma for their dedication to traditional art forms.

Brand Collaborations and Support for Art

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts

Courtesy of Leela Palace

In its third year of collaboration with the festival, The Leela Palace Jaipur has made art and artists a central focus. The hotel hosts the Author's Lounge at the festival venue and the Writer's Ball at the property. The Lounge in 2024 centred on meaningful art and conscious luxury with a greater societal cause. For example, the Leela calendars, gifted to all the authors attending the JLF, were painted by twelve talented, specially abled artists from the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA). This year, at the Writer's Ball, attendees with a Friends of the Festival pass can enjoy performances by the Princely State Dub Orchestra, Chugge Khan, and Rajasthan Josh.

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