Moulding, Chiseling, Balancing: Stonex Puts the Focus Back into Stone Art

Kishangarh is most famous as the ‘Marble City of India’, and for its namesake school of art, which has been immortalised in its famous portraits of Krishna and Radha. An example was even showcased at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2008.

This story, however, is on one of the best-known marble and stone brands of the area, Stonex. The brand recently hosted an exhibition, the Stonex Art Soirée 2025, which brought together some renowned contemporary artists.

The story of stone

Yes, stone is functional, but since times immemorial, it has also been a canvas of human creative endeavours. Stonework, in fact, effectively preceded what became the generally understood meaning of art – paintings (while cave paintings did exist, the commonly understood modern version of ‘art’ came only with invention of paper and canvas).

Right from the earliest civilisations of humankind, remarkable art in the form of sculptures and carvings have been part of human civilisation, whether it was Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Chinese or the Harappan cultures. The Greeks and Romans took it to extraordinary levels and for centuries, these ‘frozen in stone’ works of art were a measure of wealth, a propaganda tool, agents of communication (think edicts of Hammurabi or Ashoka), and of course, examples of remarkable human creativity.

Even today, statues, almost always in stone, are used to honour and commemorate. Though their purpose may have been questioned of late, their lustre remains undimmed.

The Stonex Art Soirée 2025, held in the premises of the sprawling Stonex facility, was a stunning showcase of some of the best contemporary stone art created by artists from around the world. As Sushant Pathak, CMO, Stonex Group, puts it, “It was an exclusive gathering dedicated to celebrating the enduring beauty of stone through the lens of contemporary art and design.”

The event, held over a period of four days in March, highlighted the harmonious blend of craftsmanship, vision, and legacy, bringing together a distinguished group of international artists and design aficionados. “Its core purpose is to illuminate the dynamic evolution of stone artistry, offering a rare opportunity to witness how stone continues to inspire fresh, innovative forms of creative expression,” says Mr. Pathak.

According to the brand, hosting the Art Soirée 2025 marks the beginning of Stonex’s commitment to celebrating the timeless beauty and versatility of stone. “As a brand deeply rooted in stone craftsmanship, our goal is to demonstrate how stone, traditionally used in architecture, can evolve from a functional material to a powerful medium for artistic expression.”

This event served as the first step in showcasing stone’s immense potential when transformed by visionary artists, while reinforcing our core values of craftsmanship, creativity, and sustainability. It positions Stonex as a forward-thinking brand, blending traditional techniques with modern artistry, and highlighting the endless possibilities of stone in art, design, and architecture.

The art of stone

Stonex commissioned 10 artists from around the globe for the show. “The idea of commissioning artists to create works for the soirée stemmed from Stonex’s desire to showcase the transformative potential of stone as an artistic medium,” says Mr. Pathak. “By inviting both established and emerging artists, we sought to highlight how stone can transcend its traditional role in architecture and construction, becoming a vehicle for innovative artistic expression.”

And what creativity came forth from the 10 artists! Chandrashekhar Koteshwar, Gigimon Scaria, Harsha Durugadda, Harmeet Rattan, Magesh R., Shanthamani Muddaiah, Shaik Azgharali, Sudarshan Shetty, Teja Mahendra Gavankar, and Yogesh Ramakrishna, contributed to the event.

While Shanthamani Muddaiah’s sculpture curls and crumples like cloth, Gigimon Scaria must have spent ample hours creating those endless flights of stairs in exactly the same size and depth. Teja Gavankar’s partially sliced marble globe (notice the tiny joint) is smooth, yet bricked. Each work is a feat of the artists’ strength, vision and artistry.

Additionally, international art figures like Peter Randall-Page (from UK), Nicolas Bertoux (Italy), Cynthia Sah (Hong Kong), Alex Seton (Australia), and Sebastian Errazuriz (New York) joined the soirée, enriching the dialogue on the relationship between art and stone.

According to Mr. Pathak, the timeline for each artwork varied, with some taking anywhere from six months to two years from concept to completion, involving multiple iterations, meetings, and even sourcing rare marble from across the globe.

The Art Soirée was a monumental event in Stonex’s history, with marble taking centrestage as the primary medium. “Unlike other art forms such as canvas, marble is a challenging material to work with due to its natural intrinsic properties,” points out Mr. Pathak. “Precision is key, as a single wrong chisel could deface the artwork, forcing the artist to start over. The primary challenge, therefore, was managing both the beauty and the fragility of marble with the utmost care. While this aspect added an exciting thrill to the project, it also required a level of attention and precision that made it particularly demanding.”

While Stonex did not reveal the budget for the project, its sheer scale was something that deserved a much wider audience. For starters, the works were displayed in an alley flanked by countless slabs of stone from around the world, making for a great setting.

“Artists rightfully quote a fee for their invaluable time and work, the impact and significance of the piece go far beyond any tangible price tag,” says Mr. Pathak. “Art represents a unique expression of the artist’s vision and a reflection of the timeless dialogue between material and creator. Ultimately, art holds a value that cannot simply be quantified, as its true worth lies in the experience and meaning it evokes.”

These magnificent artworks are slated to be part of a permanent collection of the brand and are not available for sale.

The brand of stone

Stonex is involved in several initiatives to raise awareness of stone art. “At Stonex, raising awareness about stone art is central to our mission,” states Mr. Pathak. “We have supported this vision through a variety of initiatives, from event sponsorships like the Serendipity Art Fair, the Madras Art Fair to our involvement in the Young Collectors Program at the India Art Fair in 2023. We’ve also had the privilege of collaborating with Sudarshan Shetty on the IFBE project, One Life, Many.”

However, the Art Soiree is their most important initiative to date, in the words of Mr. Pathak. “This event marks just the beginning of our journey, and we are committed to organizing many more pilot and large-scale events worldwide to continue fostering appreciation for stone art,” he said.

Looking ahead, Stonex is soon-to-launch their Art Residency program. Additionally, at the end of 2025, they plan to unveil the Stonex Design District, a space dedicated to the fusion of design and stone, offering a platform for artists, designers, and enthusiasts to explore and engage with stone in new and meaningful ways.

There is no clarity yet about whether the Art Soiree will be an annual event. “This is not a transactional endeavour, and this event was never designed with the intention of generating recurring RoI,” explains Mr. Pathak. “Our commitment to supporting art will continue in our own distinctive way, it remains a passion-driven initiative.”

The journey of Stonex began with three brothers—Saurav Aggarwal, Gaurav Aggarwal, and Vikas Aggarwal—who first entered the marble business in 2001, even before the brand name ‘Stonex’ was conceived. The brand itself was founded in 2003 as a partnership firm, and Stonex India Pvt. Ltd. was officially established in 2007.

In recent years, Stonex India has forayed into an art-driven luxury lifestyle brand, focused on delivering enriching experiences. Challenging conventions, it merges artistic expression with exceptional craftsmanship, offering over 700 varieties of marble, granite, onyx, limestone, and semi-precious stones, sourced globally and processed in one of the world’s finest refineries. We are quite intrigued to see what will come out from the Stonex’s stable next.