I remember the first time I visited Jaipur: the pink facades, the historic monuments, and the bustling markets it is known for, among many others. It has been three years since then, and I have lost a piece of my heart to the city, and the friends and mentors I made along the way. Everyone has that one place they are most attached to; it doesn’t have to be your birthplace or workplace (karmabhumi, as we call it in Hindi). Sometimes, it’s a place you briefly visit that just clicks. Some are lucky enough to return and make it their karmabhumi. This World Tourism Day, we sit with Noelle Kadar as she agrees to become our personal guide, taking us through the art and design landscape in Jaipur, the upcoming Jaipur Centre for Art in partnership with HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, and everything fun in the city.
When she was in art school, as she and her peers began considering life after RISD and the options available for those not pursuing a studio practice, she became particularly aware that very little was made by hand in the United States anymore. She realised that while she wouldn’t be weaving fabric, shaping wood, or throwing clay herself after graduation, in India, she could sit beside skilled craftspeople and artisans who were. This prospect excited her far more than the idea of creating a drawing and sending it across the globe, hoping the final product would return as she envisioned. “Let’s be clear, I didn’t have a quarter of the skill any of the master artisans here have, so for me, the ability to work and interact with such incredible talent was an enticing proposition” says Noelle.
This was around 20 years ago. Today, she is rooted here by her family and the incredible career that India has offered her. Her husband hails from Jaipur, and they are raising their children here in the city. Their jewelry brand, TALLIN JEWELS (owned by the family), operates an atelier in Jaipur, where a team of 18 highly skilled master goldsmiths and stone setters handcrafts each piece. 
Is there a design lesson from Jaipur that you try to implement in your work?
“Balance. It’s everywhere you look—in the way colours play off each other, the way old buildings blend with new, even in how the old city itself is laid out. There’s a sense of harmony between the past and the present, tradition and innovation, a mix of old-world charm and a modern vibe. It makes a difference in not only how one perceives a place but also how a place makes one feel”
What resonates with you personally and professionally about Jaipur, and how has the city shaped your work?
I’ve loved living in Jaipur – it’s a city brimming with creative energy, home to a vibrant community of designers and artists, some year-round residents, and others who come and go. It’s an honour now, to be able to take the experiences I’ve had professionally and be able to implement them here, through the JCA. The physical exhibition space at the City Palace, and the ideas around it, are the beginning of a larger vision for the future of contemporary conversation around art and design in the city.
We all know of your love for art; what role does “art” play in the tourism of this city? Could you tell us a bit more about the Jaipur Centre for Art that is due to launch at the end of this year? What can tourists expect?
Jaipur was founded as a city of artistic excellence, and so traditions and craft play a very important role here. But despite its rich heritage in crafts—from marble and pottery to textiles, jewelry, painting — contemporary art hasn’t been a primary focus in the city. We hope that JCA serves as a matriarch, promoting contemporary art practice in the city through our exhibitions, residencies and public art projects and creating a space for connections between global and local art communities. Hopefully, in time, we will see more galleries open up, and an influx of artists will move their studios here; making Jaipur a global destination for contemporary art.
Can you share a memorable experience or a conversation about art and design that has stayed with you?
His Highness and I have been talking about ideas around contemporary art interventions in historic spaces for years. These conversations have shaped how we think about JCA and how we honour the past while still building something fresh and exciting that pushes boundaries. I come in with my background in contemporary art, and he brings an incredible knowledge of the city’s history and architecture, paired with a deep commitment to custodianship.
Noelle’s guide for when in Jaipur:
Three eateries you would recommend to our readers…
1) The Johri
2) Jaipur Modern
3) The Lassi Wala on MI Road
An evening stroll at…
Central Park, around the Polo Ground
Reserve Friday nights for…
Polo Palladio or Bar Palladio
A dressing tip for tourists visiting the city…
Wear something chic but comfortable
Also Read: A 300-year-old Jaipur haveli gloriously restored into a boutique hotel