Explore The Arts
Folk and tribal arts from India have always been my passion. Here I share my creations and some background about each style.
Warli Art
This monochromatic, minimalistic, yet expressive style of tribal art hails from the western states of Southern Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Warli tribe resides amongst the hills of the Sahayadri range.
Mithila Art
This vibrant colorful folk style has been passed down through generations from mothers to daughters, thriving in the northern part of Bihar in India and parts of Nepal.
Gond Art
The heart of India, that state of Madhya Pradesh, is the cradle of this relatively new art style that emphasizes story telling through songs/ballads.
Lippan Art
Lippan art, also known as Lippan Kaam, is a traditional Indian mud-relief work from the Kutch region of Gujarat, used for home decoration. It features intricate 3D designs made from a mixture of clay/mud (traditionally with camel dung binder) and decorated with embedded mirrors, creating textured and shimmering wall murals.
Kalamkari Art
Kalamkari is an ancient Indian hand-painted or block-printed textile art from Telangana/Andhra Pradesh, known for intricate designs from natural dyes. These motifs typically depict mythological stories and nature, using a "kalam" (pen) for details. Srikalahasti (freehand) and Machilipatnam (block print) styles are most prominent.
Kolam Art
An ephemeral art, this style hails from the state of Tamil Nadu in India. This centuries old tradition has found a firm foothold in households in the southern part of India, practiced by the woman of the home.
Alpona Art
Conceived and supported by Rabindranath Tagore, it found a place to grow at Shanti Niketan. This style of floor art is pleasing to the eye and has beautiful aesthetics, thanks to Japanese design principles.
Mandana Art
Practiced by the women of the Meena tribe in the deserts of the state of Rajasthan in India, this wall/floor art is quite intricate.
Pichhwai Art
This art is from the town of Nathdwara in the state of Rajasthan in India. It was primarily the backdrop cloth behind the Shrinathji manifestation of Krishna (the child form).
Chittara Art
Chittara art is a traditional, ritualistic folk painting from Karnataka, India, practiced by women of the Deevaru community,. It features intricate geometric patterns and symbolic motifs on walls/floors using natural colors (rice, soil, charcoal) and paddy sticks. These depict cultural life, nature, and auspicious events like weddings and festivals, representing fertility, prosperity, and harmony with nature.
Pattachitra Art
This intricate folk style has found its home in the state of Odisha in India. The art is used to embellish the Lord Jagannath (an avatar of Krishna) and other mythological figures.
