Devi Art Foundation
Devi Art Foundation is a non-profit founded in 2005 (opened 2008) by Lekha and Anupam Poddar, presenting a contemporary South Asian art collection through exhibitions, catalogues, and an online Viewing Room from Gurgaon and New Delhi, while running education and outreach programmes for students, universities, and marginalised youth.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Devi Art Foundation does
Devi Art Foundation is a privately funded Indian non-profit art foundation established in 2005 by Lekha Poddar and Anupam Poddar, and operating publicly since 2008 from Sirpur House in Gurgaon with additional programming space in New Delhi's Okhla Industrial Area. Its core product is a curated contemporary art collection from India and South Asia — encompassing video, photography, textiles, installations, and performance — presented through rotating exhibitions, exhibition catalogues, an online Viewing Room, and a website with editorial content. The foundation runs an Education and Outreach portfolio that includes the Artroom mentorship programme (with Artreach India), Experiential Learning Modules with Ashoka University, Library Sessions with SACAC, and a Summer Internship Program, serving school students, university students, marginalised youth, and arts professionals.
The business model is that of a grant- and donation-funded cultural institution, not a commercial enterprise: admission is free, with revenue (or operating support) implicitly generated through catalogue sales, educational programming, partner co-productions, and likely donor contributions. Distribution is delivered through physical gallery spaces, partner venues (National Museum, Japan Foundation, National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum), and digital channels including the foundation's Viewing Room and a Google Arts & Culture partnership. The operating footprint is small (1-10 employees) and the technology layer is essentially a content management and digital exhibition platform rather than proprietary infrastructure. The foundation's strategic emphasis is on embedding art into public discourse via education partnerships and on extending the collection's reach digitally rather than scaling transactionally.
Devi Art Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Devi Art Foundation
- Legal name
- Devi Art Foundation
- Website
- https://deviartfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Devi Art Foundation is a non-profit founded in 2005 (opened 2008) by Lekha and Anupam Poddar, presenting a contemporary South Asian art collection through exhibitions, catalogues, and an online Viewing Room from Gurgaon and New Delhi, while running education and outreach programmes for students, universities, and marginalised youth.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Devi Art Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Art Museum / Contemporary Art Foundation
- NAICS
- Museums (712110), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Crafts & Maker Fairs (MPAGAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD), Traditional & Indigenous Crafts Lessons (Heritage Skills, Folk Arts) (THAJAKAH), Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA)
Keywords
Where Devi Art Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Devi Art Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Art Collection and Exhibition Curation: The foundation maintains and presents a contemporary art collection from India and South Asia through curated exhibitions, educational programs, and viewing rooms. Revenue is generated through exhibition attendance, catalogue sales, and educational program participation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Devi Art Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Devi Art Foundation curates and presents rotating exhibitions drawn from its contemporary art collection focused on India and South Asia, ranging from photography, video and installation art to textiles and craft collaborations. Alongside exhibitions it runs Education and Outreach Programmes that engage school children, university students, marginalised youth, and art professionals through workshops, mentorship (Artroom), Experiential Learning Modules, Library Sessions, and internships. Digital access to exhibitions is provided through the foundation's online Viewing Room and its Google Arts & Culture partnership, with publications (Catalogues) documenting each exhibition.
Product overview
Devi Art Foundation is a contemporary art institution presenting a unified portfolio of exhibitions, educational programs, and digital platforms. The core offerings include the Exhibitions Program featuring rotating shows from its South Asian contemporary art collection, supplemented by published Catalogues documenting each exhibition. The Education and Outreach Programs encompass multiple initiatives: Artroom (an arts mentorship program with Artreach India), Library Sessions (with photography students), Experiential Learning Modules (with Ashoka University), and a Summer Internship Program. The Viewing Room provides digital access to exhibition content. Resources section offers archival materials and recorded content. The Blog disseminates information about programs and exhibitions. This integrated approach combines physical exhibitions at the foundation's venues with educational programming targeting students and young people, and digital platforms extending access to the collection and exhibitions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Exhibitions Program Ongoing exhibition program presenting contemporary art from India and South Asia, featuring works from the foundation's collection across photography, video, textiles, installations, and performance art. Targets general art enthusiasts, students, researchers, and partner institutions.
- Catalogues Published exhibition catalogues documenting the foundation's shows, including works, artists, and curatorial essays from exhibitions spanning 2008 to 2019.
- Education and Outreach Programs Extensive education and outreach programs engaging school children, university students, marginalised youth, and professionals through workshops, dialogues, curatorial exercises, and modules complementing exhibitions.
- Artroom Pioneering arts mentorship program for young people from marginalised communities, presented in collaboration with Artreach India since 2018. Monthly workshops are structured around contemporary thematic explorations and led by artists, designers, photographers, filmmakers, architects, curators and conservators.
- Experiential Learning Module (ELM) Collaboration with Ashoka University's Young India Fellowship, where fellows work extensively on real-life projects engaging with the art collection for six months, developing skills in art research, archiving, exhibition making and curation.
- Library Sessions Educational initiative with Masters of Photography students at Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication, integrating the foundation's collection as curriculum resource with photographers from the collection invited for conversations.
- Summer Internship Program Annual internship program focusing on research, archiving and programming, taking in students and recent graduates for structured learning under the foundation's guidance.
- Viewing Room Online digital platform presenting viewing rooms of exhibitions including VAYAN (2023), FINE COUNT (2022), and PRA-KASHI (2019), enabling remote access to the foundation's textile and art exhibitions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 35 young people from marginalised communities annually mentored through Artroom program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Devi Art Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Devi Art Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Devi Art Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and secondary.
- National Museum, New DelhicoreCollaboration on PRA-KASHI: Silk, Gold & Silver from the City of Light (2019) exhibition featuring 47 contemporary textiles woven at ASHA Workshop in Varanasi, supplemented with historic examples from the National Museum collection.
- Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication (SACAC)coreLibrary Sessions initiative integrating DAF collection into Masters of Photography curriculum. Photographers from DAF's collection are invited to discuss their works and current practice with students.
- Artreach IndiacoreArtroom is an Artreach India initiative presented in collaboration with Devi Art Foundation since 2018. It is a pioneering arts mentorship programme for young people living in care homes in Delhi. Monthly workshops are structured around contemporary thematic explorations and led by artists, designers, photographers, filmmakers, architects, curators and conservators.
- National Handicrafts and Handlooms MuseumcorePartnership for presenting 'A Search in Five Directions' (2018) honouring Padma Bhushan Late Martand Singh, showcasing hand-crafted textiles from the Vishwakarma series.
- INTACHminorConservation and Painting Restoration workshops as part of Artroom 2018-19, held at INTACH facilities. Also facilitated filmmaking workshops.
- Gati Dance Forumsecondary#Intersect (2017) was a collaboration bringing cutting edge contemporary visual artists and dancer-performers together to produce new work in collaboration. Three performances explored intersections of performance and visual art.
- The Japan Foundation, New DelhisecondaryVenue partner for On Line Dot exhibition (2017), curated by Maki Nishida, exploring drawing as a concept through works on paper and other media.
- Ashoka UniversitycoreLong-standing collaboration since 2015 through Experiential Learning Modules with Young India Fellows. Fellows engage with DAF's art collection for six months, working on research, archiving, exhibition making and curation projects. The program complements academic learning by bridging visual arts with other disciplines.
- Flow IndiaminorCollaboration for International Museum Week in 2015, hosting museum walkthroughs and workshops for teachers from different schools in Gurgaon.
- RAQS Media CollectivesecondaryCurated Serai Reader 09: the exhibition (2012-13), a nine-month series of 100 projects including performances, events, installations, and interventions across various art forms.
- Salaam Baalak TrustcorePartner NGO in Artroom program providing art mentorship to young people from street children and marginalised backgrounds.
- Udayan CarecorePartner NGO in Artroom program for young people living in care homes.
- Rainbow Homes ProgramcorePartner NGO in Artroom program for children from care homes.
- Karam MargsecondaryPartner NGO in Artroom 2019-20 session for young people from care homes.
- ASHA WorkshopcoreVaranasi-based workshop whose skilled weavers produced 47 contemporary textiles for Pra-kashi exhibition, reviving and reinventing brocades on the drawloom over 25 years.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Devi Art Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- India Art Fair: South Asia's leading modern and contemporary art fair, connecting Indian galleries with international collectors. Adjacent in focus on Indian contemporary art market development.
- Kochi-Muziris Biennale: India's largest contemporary art biennale. Comparable as an Indian platform showcasing South Asian and international contemporary artists, though operating on a temporary exhibition model rather than permanent collection.
Broad incumbents
- Tate Modern: A major global contemporary art museum. Comparable as a contemporary art institution with permanent collection, education programming, and digital initiatives — though at vastly greater scale.
- Mori Art Museum: Tokyo's leading contemporary art museum with strong Asian focus, education programs, and digital initiatives. Comparable as an Asian contemporary art museum investing in cross-border curation and outreach.
- National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA): India's premier government-run modern and contemporary art museum in New Delhi. Competes for the same audience and artists but operates at much larger scale with government funding.
- Asia Society Museum: New York-based museum focused on traditional and contemporary Asian art with active education and cultural exchange programming. Comparable in cross-cultural curation of Asian contemporary art.
Regional players
- Serendipity Arts Foundation: Curates the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, focused on Indian contemporary and traditional art across disciplines. Comparable as a private Indian arts institution investing in curation, craft, and interdisciplinary programming.
Direct peers
- Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA): India's largest private contemporary art museum, also founded by a private collector (Kiran Nadar). Directly comparable as a privately-funded contemporary art institution in India with active exhibitions, education programs, and a permanent collection.
- Museum of Art & Photography (MAP): A private contemporary art museum in Bangalore with a strong South Asian art collection, digital-first strategy, and educational outreach. Highly comparable in mission, scale, and operational model.
- Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum: Mumbai's oldest museum, now operating as a public-private partnership focused on art, craft, and design. Comparable as an Indian museum that integrates contemporary curation, craft heritage, and education programming.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Devi Art Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceDevi Art Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Devi Art Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Devi Art Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Devi Art Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Devi Art Foundation
What does Devi Art Foundation do?
Devi Art Foundation curates and presents rotating exhibitions drawn from its contemporary art collection focused on India and South Asia, ranging from photography, video and installation art to textiles and craft collaborations. Alongside exhibitions it runs Education and Outreach Programmes that engage school children, university students, marginalised youth, and art professionals through workshops, mentorship (Artroom), Experiential Learning Modules, Library Sessions, and internships. Digital access to exhibitions is provided through the foundation's online Viewing Room and its Google Arts & Culture partnership, with publications (Catalogues) documenting each exhibition.
Is Devi Art Foundation a public or private company?
Devi Art Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Devi Art Foundation founded?
Devi Art Foundation was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Devi Art Foundation based?
Devi Art Foundation is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does Devi Art Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: art Collection and Exhibition Curation.
Who are Devi Art Foundation's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are India Art Fair and Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Broad incumbents are Tate Modern, Mori Art Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) and Asia Society Museum. Serendipity Arts Foundation is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) and Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum.
Does Devi Art Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Devi Art Foundation.
What industry is Devi Art Foundation in?
Devi Art Foundation's product category is Art Museum / Contemporary Art Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAFAJ, Arts, Crafts & Maker Fairs, with a secondary code of EDAMAAAD, Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media). Its NAICS code is 712110 and its SIC code is 2741.