Dhoomimal Gallery, the oldest art gallery in India, is ready to be the center of creativity by announcing the 34th Annual Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation (RJMF) Exhibition and Awards 2025. The award festival, which will be held on September 29 and last until October 15, 2025. It will also be a lively exhibition of modern Indian art, showcasing the projects of 60 up-and-coming artists throughout the country.
Founded in 1991 by Uma Jain, in the memory of her late husband, Ravi Jain (1936-2000). He was a progressive gallerist whose ideas transformed the art scene in New Delhi. The initiative has continued to maintain his legacy of giving the youth a platform to be heard. Presently the gallery continues to run this mission under the leadership of his son, Uday Jain, and the large vision of the future of Indian art.
Carrying the legacy
Ravi Jain was not only an artist, he was an idealist who did not think of art as a commodity, but as an essential part of the culture that could create an impact on society. Upon stepping on board as Dhoomimal Gallery which had been established in 1936, he showcased the modern Indian art when there were hardly any at all.
When Uma Jain started the Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation (RJMF) in 1991, the idea was to carry on this same tradition of not being afraid to experiment and to encourage young artists. The RJMF has been at the center of the stage in discovering and developing hundreds of young talents over the last 30 years most of whom have contributed to the course of Indian contemporary art.
About the 34th RJMF Exhibition
The RJMF 2025 version of the Exhibition represents this heritage with a new stream of innovativeness. Among the 600 submissions that have been received this year, 60 artistic personalities have been shortlisted to showcase more than 120 pieces which include paintings and sculptures, print making, digital art and video.
The Awards Night
One of the most noticeable parts of the event will be the Award Ceremony on October 14, 2025, during which four outstanding artists in the exhibiting group will receive the 34th Annual Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation Awards. Each winner will receive a cash award of ₹1,00,000 and further mentoring and networking with Dhoomimal Gallery.
About the Jury
The awardees of this year will be chosen by a panel of great jurors, including some of the most esteemed persons in the art industry:
- Vibha Galhotra – Internationally renowned with her multidisciplinary practice based on both ecological and urban issues.
- Rekha Rodwittiya – Famous artist, teacher and activist of feminist art and social art.
- Anish Gawande – Author, curator and cultural commentator of his incisive writing in cultural policy and culture.
- Arunkumar H.G. – One of the most famous artists who is known due to his experimental approach to materials and community-based projects.
- Ina Puri – Renowned author, art curator, collector and biographer of contemporary Indian art.
Collectively, this jury symbolizes the diversity, energy and intellectuality of Indian contemporary art. Their participation makes sure that the awards are not only a technical masterpiece, but a conceptual, culturally relevant, and artistically brave one.
Experience for Visitors
The 34th RJMF Exhibition is not merely a display but is a proposed experience that is expected to be enjoyed by the art enthusiasts, students, curators and the collectors. The exhibition format will stimulate the conversation between the various media and styles, between the classic methods rethought with the help of modern approach as well as the digital and video art works that are going to consider the pressing social issues. The audience will experience the following:
- Conceptual works that were thought-provoking in the response to the existing socio-political realities.
- Bright figurative and abstract works with their technical mastery and emotionalism.
- Complicated figures that examine the dimension of form, materialism, and cultural stories.
- New media installations being experimental and pushing the visual narrative.
In the act of uniting such a broad range of practices under a single roof, the exhibition emphasizes pluralism and energy of Indian contemporary art in the modern day.
Exhibition Details
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | 34th Annual Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation (RJMF) Exhibition & Awards 2025 |
| Organised By | Dhoomimal Gallery |
| Dates | September 29 to October 15, 2025 |
| Timings | 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Closed on Sundays) |
| Venue | Dhoomimal Gallery, G-42, Outer Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi |
| Total Entries Received | 600+ entries from across India |
| Artists Selected | 60 emerging artists |
| Artworks Displayed | 120+ works |
| Mediums Featured | Paintings, printmaking, sculptures, digital art, video installations |
| Awards Ceremony | October 14, 2025 |
| Number of Awards | 4 awards |
| Award Prize | ₹1,00,000 each + mentorship and networking support |
| Jury Members | Vibha Galhotra, Rekha Rodwittiya, Anish Gawande, Arunkumar H.G., Ina Puri |
About the Dhoomimal Gallery
Dhoomimal Gallery is the oldest modern art gallery in India and was established in 1936, it is a pioneer in influencing the art scene in the country. Today, with the leadership of Uday Jain, the gallery still pursues the vision of promoting modern art and respects its rich history. It conducts regular focused exhibitions, art talks and educational programs which relate audiences to the most crucial voices in Indian art. At the heart of this vision is the annual RJMF Awards, which is one of the ways to pay back to the art community and guarantee the constant influx of new talent.
Why This Exhibition is Important
In a more market-oriented and trendy art world, the RJMF Exhibition has continued to shine through its unrelenting focus on talent, experimentation, and mentorship. They are a reminder that art is not a matter of beauty or business, but a matter of culture, bravery and society.
- To the young artists, this exhibition symbolizes:
- One of the most renowned galleries in India validated him.
- Recognitions in front of collectors, curators, critics, and media.
- Mentoring and institutional support by senior practitioners.
- Greater career building in arts.
To viewers, it is an opportunity to watch the future of Indian art being made real-time – to encounter new daring ideas, unearth some untarnished treasures, and a multiplicity of voices redefining modern Indian aesthetics.
A Tribute to an Ravi Jain
As the 34th Annual Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation Exhibition and Awards 2025 is about to open its doors, it is a good tribute to the heritage of Ravi Jain, a man who had a strong belief in the power of art and was keen on developing new voices.
Even 20 years after his death, his ideas and vision keep filling the halls of Dhoomimal Gallery with the power, experimentation and hope of the future of Indian art. When the creations of 60 rising artists fill the gallery walls, new names will be added to the long list of RJMF awardees.
