Jodhpur Arts Week Reimagines the Ancient Blue City in India
Founded by arts entrepreneur Sana Rezwan, the inaugural arts week, taking place from October 1–7, merges heritage with contemporary innovation as 20 artists and designers have created site-responsive works throughout the city
Jodhpur, an ancient city in the state of Rajasthan in Northwest India, has long beckoned travelers for its majestic forts, palaces, vibrant markets, and rich royal history. Now, its ancient stepwells and historic monuments are being transformed by a slew of contemporary artists and makers, breathing new life into destination. The inaugural Jodhpur Arts Week, on view from October 1–7, is a new event that merges heritage with contemporary innovation. It’s an ambitious undertaking by the Public Arts Trust of India (PATI), founded by arts entrepreneur Sana Rezwan, who aims to forge a new creative ecosystem from the city’s rich history.
“Jodhpur has long been a city defined by its craft, resilience, and layered histories,” Rezwan tells Galerie. “With Hath Ro Hunar—‘skill of the hand’—we wanted to create a platform that not only honors this incredible heritage but also connects it to contemporary conversations in art and design.
The core mission of the Public Arts Trust is to use art and design as powerful tools for social change and cultural enrichment, a philosophy that is central to this week-long event. Too often, Rezwan notes, artisans and their contributions are “relegated to the margins.” The Arts Week was born from a desire to “shift that narrative—foregrounding artisans as collaborators and co-creators, and creating a new kind of ecosystem where knowledge flows both ways between local communities and global practitioners.”
This philosophy comes to life through the event’s curated collaborations. Under the direction of curators Tapiwa Matsinde and Sakhshi Mahajan, more than 20 artists and designers from around the world have created a series of site-responsive works. These projects engage deeply with Jodhpur’s landscape and communities, activating the city’s historically significant architecture.
Among the most compelling highlights is Delhi-based artist Ayesha Singh’s commission at the Mayla Bagh Jhalra, a lesser-known stepwell. In a partnership with the RMZ Foundation, Singh’s work explores the overlooked role of women in shaping Jodhpur’s water systems. Similarly, the artist Chila Kumari Singh Burman is making her India debut with a new installation at Toorji Ka Jhalra. With support from the British Council, Burman will flood the stepwell’s facade with a dramatic display of neon lights, a powerful visual dialogue between ancient architecture and contemporary, diasporic art.
The dialogue extends to Jodhpur’s renowned textile traditions. In collaboration with Gallery Espace, Puneet Kaushik’s installation at Shree Sumer Girls School will engage local tie and dye, block printing, and rug-making artisans. The project explores themes of marriage, identity, and adornment, foregrounding the role of textile traditions as transmitters of women’s histories. Elsewhere, American artist Theo Pinto’s collaboration with local stone and wood carvers represents a powerful cross-pollination of global outlook and local skill. “This living conversation between past and present is what excites me most,” says Rezwan.
Rezwan hopes the week will demonstrate “what is possible when collaboration is placed at the center of artistic practice” and inspires India’s artistic community to move beyond the traditional silos of artist and artisan.
“I want it to spark new models of working that are inclusive, community-rooted, and sustainable—reminding us that the skill of the hand carries not only beauty but also the power to inspire social and cultural transformation.”
Jodhpur Arts Week takes place from October 1–7, 2025