Riyas Komu

Riyas Komu (b. 1971, Kerala) is a critically acclaimed multimedia artist, curator, and cultural entrepreneur based in Mumbai. His works, deeply rooted in socio-political themes, explore issues of migration, displacement, and collective memory. Known for his hyper-realistic oil portraits, Komu was one of two artists selected to represent India at the 52nd Venice Biennale (2007) and later represented the Iranian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (2015).

He is the ideator and co-founder of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (est. 2010) and played a key role in curating its first edition in 2012. As Director of Programmes, he has initiated several pioneering projects, including the Students' Biennale, Children's Biennale, Artists' Cinema, and Pepper House Residency. Komu has also served as an advisor and visual arts curator for the Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa, conceptualizing the Young Subcontinent project.

Beyond exhibitions, he co-founded URU Art Harbour in Kochi, a cultural hub promoting local artists and maritime history research. His curatorial work extends to festivals such as the International Football Film Festival (2012) and Kondotty Sufi Festival (2019). Komu’s art has been showcased globally, making him a significant voice in contemporary Indian art.