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Celebrating a Decade of Cultural Leadership
and Innovation at the Intersection of Art, Design, and Technology.
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‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission winner
Afrah Shafiq showcases ‘A Giant Sampler’ across the India Art Fair façade.
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BMW Concept Speedtop on exclusive display at
BMW Collectors Lounge.
Gurugram : BMW Group India returns as the presenting partner of the 17th edition of India
Art Fair from 5 – 8 February 2026 at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi,
marking a decade of the brand’s enduring commitment to cultural engagements in
India. India Art Fair is the leading platform showcasing modern and
contemporary art from India and South Asia and convenes audiences to explore a
record 135 exhibitors, including 94 commercial galleries, presented alongside
major regional and international art institutions. The fair welcomes 26 new
exhibitors, marking its broadest showcase yet, continuing its mission to
foreground the most compelling practices and voices from South Asia alongside
major contemporary international artists and collectible design, reaffirming
its position as leading site for the discovery of art and culture in the
region.
Mr.
Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “BMW Group
India’s decade-long partnership with India Art Fair reflects our unwavering
belief that culture, creativity, and innovation are inseparable pillars of
progress. Through ‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission and our
presence at this vibrant platform, we celebrate the power of artistic
expression to shape a sustainable and inclusive future. The BMW Concept
Speedtop, showcased this year, symbolizes our commitment to pushing boundaries,
where design, technology, and craftsmanship converge to inspire new horizons.
Together with India Art Fair, we are proud to nurture a dynamic ecosystem where
art and innovation fuel transformation, not just for the automotive world, but
for society at large.”
‘The
Future is Born of Art’ Commission: A Bold New Chapter
Marking ten years of creative partnership with India Art Fair and five
years of the landmark ‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission, BMW Group
India continues to champion emerging Indian artists on the global stage. The
2026 Commission, themed ‘Crafting in Continuum’, is awarded to Afrah
Shafiq for her immersive installation ‘A Giant Sampler’, displayed
prominently across the fair’s façade for the first time.
Shafiq’s
work reimagines progress as continuity, a harmonious coexistence of handcraft
traditions, digital systems, and human touch. Drawing on embroidery motifs and
textile practices linked to women’s histories, the installation integrates an
interactive Augmented Reality (AR) experience, inviting visitors to engage with
layered narratives of memory, movement, and transformation. The BMW wheel,
rendered in cross-stitch, emerges as a contemporary emblem of precision,
motion, and cyclical change, connecting the brand’s heritage with artistic
innovation.
As
winners of the prestigious ‘Future is Born of Art’ Commission, led by BMW and
India Art Fair, Afrah Shafiq joins the ranks of India’s most promising artistic
voices. Previous winners, Non-Linear (Dennis Peter) and Cursorama (Yash
Chandak) 2025, Sashikanth Thavudoz (2024), Devika Sundar (2023) and Faiza Hasan
(2022), have set the stage with visionary works exploring community,
materiality and ecology.
Exclusive
Showcase: BMW Concept Speedtop at the BMW Collectors Lounge
The
BMW Concept Speedtop embodies BMW’s seamless fusion of art, design, and
innovation, presenting a bold vision of craftsmanship and performance. Its
striking shark-nose front, illuminated kidney grille, flowing central spline,
and distinctive Touring profile create a powerful presence, enhanced by a
dramatic roof gradient from Floating Sunstone Maroon to Floating Sundown Silver
and bespoke two-tone wheels.
Inside,
the precise craftsmanship from BMW’s Dingolfing plant defines a luxurious cabin
with brogue style detailing, two-tone leather in Sundown Maroon and Moonstone
White, and an ambient light beam inspired by the exterior spline. The leather
finished trunk is thoughtfully divided for multi-day journeys.
A
collaboration with Italian leather specialist Schedoni adds bespoke luggage and
behind seat storage, underscoring the concept’s exclusivity. Powered by BMW’s
most powerful V8, the Concept Speedtop combines dramatic design with
exhilarating performance. Limited to just 70 units worldwide, it offers
collectors a rare opportunity to own a true automotive masterpiece.
The
Concept Speedtop reflects BMW Group’s commitment to cultural engagement and the
convergence of art, technology, and future mobility.
About
BMW Group India Cultural Commitment
The
BMW Group has initiated and been engaged in hundreds of global cultural
initiatives for over 50 years. From music to film, from architecture to design,
contemporary art has played an essential role – via long-term institutional
partnerships with major museums or partnering with the leading art fairs around
the world, such as Art Basel and Frieze from Los Angeles, New York and Miami,
to Seoul, Hong kong, Paris, and London.
Since
its inception, BMW India has participated in leading cultural engagements across
the country. In 2007, two BMW Art Cars embellished by world-renowned artists
Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein were presented at the Jehangir Art Gallery in
Mumbai. BMW Art Car by Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Sandro Chia and Cesar Manrique
have been exclusively showcased at various editions of the India Art Fair.
Since
its inception in 2012, BMW has partnered with Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the
contemporary art exhibition, which brings international artists to India and
creates a global platform for Indian artists. In 2012-13, the innovative BMW
Guggenheim Lab came to India. Based at Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum and conducted
at six different venues in Mumbai, the lab organised six weeks of free
programmes with diverse audiences and communities addressing the challenges and
conditions of the urban city.
In
2026, BMW Group India and India Art Fair celebrate ten years of partnership and
five years of The Future is Born of Art Commission. A milestone that
underscores their shared commitment to creativity, innovation and
sustainability at the intersection of art, design and technology.
About
India Art Fair | Indiaartfair.in
India
Art Fair is the leading platform to discover modern and contemporary art from
South Asia. Established in 2008, India Art Fair is the region’s premier modern
and contemporary art fair, providing a unique access point to its thriving
cultural scene, drawing together galleries, artists, private foundations, arts charities,
artist collectives, national institutions, cultural events and festivals.
Launching in 2025, IAF EDI+IONS is a new initiative designed as a series of
curated showcases across India, reaffirming the fair’s commitment to expanding
its regional footprint to celebrate the best of art and culture from across
South Asia. Rooted in local cultural contexts while connected to global
networks, IAD EDI+IONS extends the fair’s annual curatorial vision beyond
Delhi, offering intimate yet impactful experiences for collectors, patrons and
institutions, while celebrating the best of South Asian art and design. India
Art Fair is owned and operated by Angus Montgomery Arts (AMA), a division of
Angus Montgomery Ltd.
If
you have any queries, please contact:
BMW
Group India
Richa
Sharma, Head of Press and Corporate Affairs
Cell:
+91 9910022148; Tel: + 91 124 4566600; Email: Richa.Sharma@bmw.in
Satchit
Gayakwad, Press and Corporate Affairs
Cell:
+91 9892579925; Tel: + 91 124 4566600; Email: Satchit.Gayakwad@bmw.in
Internet:
www.bmw.in
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