A Living Canvas: Lodhi Art District Celebrates a Decade of Public Art

By: SURVESHWAR SARVESH PATHAK

A Decade of Public Art in Lodhi Colony

Lodhi Colony in New Delhi has, for ten years, stood as India’s first public art district. What began in 2015 with three murals has grown into a vibrant open-air museum, shaped by the vision of St+art India Foundation and the support of Asian Paints. Today, Lodhi Art District is home to more than 65 murals and has become a landmark of creativity, community, and cultural exchange.

Dilate All Art Spaces

The Lodhi Art Festival 2026, held from 1–28 February, celebrates this milestone with the theme Dilate All Art Spaces. The idea expands the definition of art beyond galleries and walls, embracing everyday life, movement, and memory. Supported by Asian Paints, the festival brings together murals, performances, participatory projects, workshops, and digital activations, positioning Lodhi as both a neighbourhood rooted in its community and a site of international dialogue.

Six New Murals

This edition introduces six new murals by artists from around the world: JuMu (Germany), Pener (Poland), Raissa Pardini (UK) with the late Hanif Kureshi (India), Elian Chali (Argentina), Svabhu Kohli (India) with Ram Sangchoju (India), and a collaborative mural by Suso33 (Spain), Tarini Sethi (India), and Ishaan Bharat (India). Together, these works extend Lodhi’s role as a shared public canvas, reinforcing dialogue and experimentation.

Beyond the Walls

The festival moves beyond static murals into dynamic interventions. The Cycle Rickshaw Project transforms ten rickshaws into mobile artworks, designed by artists who have shaped Lodhi’s journey. An inflatable installation by Nicolas Barrome Forgues creates a surreal garden of humanised flowers inspired by Asian Paints’ Colour of the Year. The festival also opens with ELEVATION, a French performance exploring balance and gravity, presented with the French Institute in India and Alliance Française.

Conversations and Community

Every weekend, panel discussions, guided tours, and workshops invite audiences to engage with art beyond viewing. Topics include accessibility, ecology, colour, and emerging forms of public practice, ensuring that Lodhi remains a space of dialogue as much as spectacle.

Voices of Commitment

Amit Syngle, MD & CEO of Asian Paints Ltd., notes that art in public spaces creates connection and dialogue, becoming part of how people experience their city. St+art India Foundation reflects on Lodhi’s journey, emphasising the importance of deepening engagement and building networks of art districts rooted in their neighbourhoods while speaking to the world.

A Living Legacy

As Lodhi Art District celebrates ten years, it stands as a testament to patience, collaboration, and care. Supported by residents, institutions, and government partners, Lodhi has become a living legacy of public art—a place where creativity is not confined but shared, where walls are not boundaries but bridges.