Janeita Singh and Niyogi Books win the prestigious Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize 2025 for F.N. Souza: The Archetypal Artist
The prestigious Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize announced ‘F.N. Souza: The Archetypal Artist’ authored by academician and art critic Janeita Singh and published by Niyogi Books– as the winner of itsthird edition. The award ceremony was hosted by H.E. Ms. May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives; Dr. Alka Pande, Museum curator, art historian, author and jury chair; and Oxford Bookstores, at the Embassy of Norway, underlining the significance of this literary honour.
Janeita Singh and Niyogi Books were presented with a trophy, certificate and cash prize of INR 1 Lakh by Museum curator, art historian, author and jury chair, Dr. Alka Pande; Ambassador of Norway to India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives, H.E. Ms. May-Elin Stener; Director, Institutional Affairs and Outreach, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), Ms. Apurva Kackar; and CEO, Apeejay Oxford Bookstores, Mr. 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 a 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 the jury chair, Dr. Alka 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 F.N. 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, Ambassador of Norway to India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives, H.E. Ms. 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 Ambassador of Norway to India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives, H.E. Ms. May-Elin Stener; Director, Apeejay Surrendra Group and the creative force behind Oxford Bookstores, Ms. Priti Paul; Museum curator, art historian, author and jury chair, Dr. Alka Pande; Director General, Bihar Museum, Mr. Anjani Kumar Singh; Founder and Director, Art Alive Gallery, Ms. Sunaina Anand and Director, Institutional Affairs and Outreach, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), Ms. Apurva Kackar.
The shortlisted titles of the third edition were:
- Title- F.N. Souza: The Archetypal Artist
Publisher- Niyogi Books
Author- Janeita Singh
- Title- A Thousand Shadows
Publisher- Self
Author/ Artist- Navin Sakhuja
- Title- Delhi Durbar: Empire, Display and the Possession
Publisher- DAG
Edited by Swapna Liddle and Rana Safvi
- Title- The Babu & The Bazaar: Art from 19th and Early 20th Century Bengal
Publisher- DAG
Edited by Aditi Nath Sarkar with Shatadeep
- Title- Raza: the other modern
Publisher- Mapin Publishing, The Raza Foundation and Progressive Art Gallery
Authors- Gayatri Sinha, Yashodhara Dalmia and Geeti Sen
