Kiran Nadar worked for an advertising agency as communications and brand professional before meeting the man who would eventually become her husband, Shiv Nadar – the founder of HCL Technologies. Kiran always possessed the knack for creativity and natural inclination towards the arts. As time passed by, Shiv Nadar’s HCL grew from a garage startup to a multinational corporate giant while Kiran joined NIIT transforming it into a popular brand. During the same time, she was nurturing the avid art collector in her.
Kiran Nadar at the art museum
Her fascination for collecting art works dates back to 1988. By 2010 her collection became so vast that she opened a museum for people to enjoy exquisite art pieces fondly collected over the years from India and the subcontinent. Her ground-breaking museum became India’s first private philanthropic museum. Kiran was acknowledged as ‘hero of philanthropy’ by Forbes Asia Magazine.
Art lovers at KNMA
Known as the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), the two branches of world class museum in Saket and Noida, Delhi-NCR has made more than 7,000 incredible art work accessible to the masses. The annual footfall of non-commercial, not-for-profit institution is more than a lakh each year.
It exemplifies the relation between art and culture through publications, exhibitions, educational and public programmes. The 34,000 square feet museum is supported by Shiv Nadar foundation. Kiran is the foundation’s trustee and chairperson of KNMA.
Kids at KNMA
The museum has been promoting contemporary and modern art imbuing a great sense of appreciation from a broad spectrum of society comprising of budding artists, scholars, art connoisseurs and the people at large. Since its inception KNMA has been upholding the tradition of art patronage through educational initiatives. It collaborates with NGOs, schools, and colleges encouraging and providing a platform of knowledge sharing by the experts through regular workshops demystifying art for the common man.