This online platform curates Indian-rooted art and rare collectibles

Indian art and artifacts take centre stage at Itihaus, a online platform launched by Hyderabad-based Suman Kakumani as a tribute to fine art and collectibles.

Fresh from curating a two-day display at the World Experience Centre in Jubilee Hills, Suman is now gearing up for Design Democracy 2025 (September 5 to 7), an exhibition that connects global interior and lifestyle brands with architects, designers, and property owners. At the showcase, Itihaus will present works by 12 artists, including Kandi Narasimlu, Basuki Dasgupta, Bhaskar Rao, Priyanka Aelay, Ashok Rathod, and Naman Mahipal.

Suman Kakumani 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The name itself reflects its philosophy — Itihaas (history in Hindi) and Haus (house in German) come together as “history for your house.” The platform curates pieces that celebrate heritage, time-life aesthetics, and craftsmanship. “The sprawling space at the World Experience Centre by the DSR Group resonated with my work. They build homes, and I curate art and collectibles that bring those homes alive,” says Suman.

Her passion for art, combined with the way COVID reshaped our approach to personal spaces, inspired the launch of Itihaus in 2024. “A vibrant painting or a figurative form in a corner close to us can be transformative. It feels as if the work is speaking to us. Listening to soft music with such imagery around is a beautiful experience.”

By Naman Mahipal
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

This season, Itihaus celebrates Indian culture with a collection ranging from Laxman Aelay’s folk depictions of women in conversation and Narasimlu’s acrylics of Telangana couples to Sachin Jaltare’s mythological works, alongside wooden and bronze sculptures.

With several artists already on board, Suman is planning exhibitions in Delhi and Mumbai in the coming months.