The Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize announced FN Souza: The Archetypal Artist, authored by academician and art critic Janeita Singh and published by Niyogi Books, as the winner of its third edition. The award ceremony was hosted by May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives; Alka Pande, museum curator, art historian, author and jury chair; and Oxford Bookstores, at the Embassy of Norway on 6 August 2025, underlining the significance of this literary honor.
Janeita Singh and Niyogi Books were presented with a trophy, certificate and cash prize of Rs 1 lakh by Alka Pande, May-Elin Stener, Apurva Kackar, director, Institutional Affairs and Outreach, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA); and CEO, Apeejay Oxford Bookstores, Swagat Sengupta. The ceremony was graced by artists, gallerists, designers, publishers, authors, diplomats, literary and art enthusiasts from across the country.
“I am delighted that the Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize is gradually gaining momentum and greater visibility with each passing year. As art increasingly becomes collectible, the need to document it thoughtfully through high-quality production is more essential than ever. The prize plays a vital role in encouraging artists, galleries, cultural institutions, and publishers to publish more art books. These publications serve as important records that preserve and disseminate artistic and cultural ideas”, said Pande while announcing the winner.
Alongside the winning title, the jury also commended two more books:
- Raza, the other modern by Gayatri Sinha, Yashodhara Dalmia and Geeti Sen; published by Mapin Publishing, The Raza Foundation and Progressive Art Gallery
- A Thousand Shadows authored and published by Navin Sakhuja
Speaking at the ceremony, the winner Janeita Singh said, “To be loved is to be seen and known. The critical study on Souza’s life and art was a dance with provocation, heresy, and beauty. Now that FN Souza: The Archetypal Artist lounges on hallowed shelves—how delicious, then, to be crowned by the Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize in the homeland. That the book resonates with readers and institutions alike is a reward beyond the prize”
Sharing her thoughts on the award and the announcement, May-Elin Stener said, “Both Norway and India share a deep respect for the power of art to reflect our times, inspire progress and forge connections beyond borders. This prize exemplifies that beautifully, and being part of it as a jury member has been a great learning experience for me. This dive into Indian art has been enlightening and deepened my understanding of this vast country. In Norway, we cherish artistic freedom and creativity as essential ingredients for a robust, inclusive society, and we remain committed to supporting the arts both at home and abroad, sparking dialogue and understanding through meaningful cultural exchange.”
With its continued commitment to celebrating excellence in art publishing, the Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize reaffirms the growing importance of innovative and thought-provoking art literature in India.
The jury for the third edition of Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize includes May-Elin Stener; director, Apeejay Surrendra Group and the creative force behind Oxford Bookstores, Priti Paul; Alka Pande; director general, Bihar Museum, Anjani Kumar Singh; founder and director, Art Alive Gallery, Sunaina Anand and Apurva Kackar.
The shortlisted titles of the third edition were:
FN Souza: The Archetypal Artist by Janeita Singh, published by Niyogi Books
A Thousand Shadows by Navin Sakhuja, self-published
Delhi Durbar: Empire, Display and the Possession, edited by Swapna Liddle and Rana Safvi, published by Delhi Art Gallery (DAG)
The Babu & The Bazaar: Art from 19th and Early 20th Century Bengal, edited by Aditi Nath Sarkar with Shatadeep, published by Delhi Art Gallery (DAG)
Raza: the other modern by Gayatri Sinha, Yashodhara Dalmia and Geeti Sen, published by Mapin Publishing, The Raza Foundation and Progressive Art Gallery
Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize is said to be India’s only prize that recognizes the value of art in all genres under the umbrella of the art publication. Instituted in 2022, the Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize is an innovative collaboration between Oxford Bookstores and the Visual Arts Gallery, celebrating the best in art publications published in English language. The collaboration between the two institutes underscores the importance of their commitment to advance the print practice in the field of arts. Significantly, the Art Book Prize actively recognizes the contribution the book has made to the large discourse on art and culture.
The Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize is an open invitation for publishers, academics who research art and culture, collectives and independent artists based in India who are involved from the conceptualization stage through the production stage of various forms of art publications. An illustrious panel of experts looks for original concepts, critical thinking, and novel approaches for identifying and recognizing talents who contribute to the popularization of art publishing in India and beyond.
In its inaugural year, the prize was awarded to Satyabrata Rout for his book Scenography: An Indian Perspective, published by Niyogi Books. The second edition honored Tantra on the Edge: Inspirations and Experiments in Twentieth-Century Indian Art by art historian Madhu Khanna, published by DAG.
