India Art Festival Mumbai 2025: How Exhibitions Empower Artists Through Community and Creativity

India Art Festival Mumbai 2025: What Artists Gain From Exhibitions

Art exhibitions are not just showcases — they are vibrant spaces of connection, feedback, and creative discovery. The 2025 edition of the India Art Festival (IAF) in Mumbai proved just that, bringing together a wide array of visual artists and enthusiastic audiences.

Among the many artists exhibiting their work this year were Deepika Shah, Anjali Prabhakar, and Sharu Anjirbag — each with a unique background and artistic philosophy. In interviews with YourStory, they shared their thoughts on creativity, the meaning of art, and what they gained from participating in the festival.

🎨 Artist Highlights

• Deepika Shah, based in Mumbai with an MBA in marketing, transitioned from the pharmaceutical and jewelry industries into full-time painting. Her works blend realism and impressionism on convex canvases, aiming to create moments of stillness and inner joy.
• Anjali Prabhakar, from Bhopal, brings together influences from fashion, HR, and hypnotherapy into expressive, flowing artworks that reflect themes of success, spirituality, and everyday life.
• Sharu Anjirbag, a self-taught artist with a background in mathematics and yoga philosophy, is known for her layered mountain landscapes. She often works on multiple canvases at once to accommodate the drying process between layers.

🖼️ Festival Experience and Sales

All three artists reported positive outcomes from the Mumbai edition of IAF.

• Shah displayed vibrant works and a unique standing concave painting of Mount Kailash, with prices ranging from Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 2 lakh. “Sales were strong and I received many new inquiries,” she shared.
• Prabhakar made new connections with collectors and artists, noting that her highest-priced artwork was valued at Rs. 9 lakh. “Each city brings new energy and art preferences,” she observed.
• Anjirbag, whose paintings average around Rs. 60,000, said the audience’s feedback was encouraging and consistent with previous years.

💡 Tips for Aspiring Artists

• “Paint daily. Just show up in front of your easel and art will emerge,” Anjirbag advised.
• Prabhakar encouraged artists to stay rooted in their cultural heritage and to view the artist’s role as socially vital. “Artists deserve the same respect as doctors, engineers, or ministers.”
• Shah emphasized originality and continuous learning: “Your art is your own — don’t compare it. Keep showing up, and keep creating.”

(All photographs were taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at India Art Festival Mumbai 2025.)