Collection: Padma Shri Bhuri Bai, Madhya Pradesh

Born in Pitol village, Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh,

Padma Shri Bhuri Bai is a pioneering Bhil artist whose vibrant paintings bridge tribal tradition and contemporary expression. Belonging to India’s largest tribal community, the Bhils, she began by painting ritualistic Pithora murals on mud walls before transitioning to paper and canvas under the mentorship of artist J. Swaminathan at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal.

Her paintings, filled with rhythmic dots and vivid colors, capture myths, folklore, and scenes from Bhil life, evolving to include modern imagery like airplanes and cell phones. Bhuri Bai’s work embodies both cultural memory and adaptive resilience, symbolizing the transformation of indigenous art in modern contexts.

A recipient of several prestigious honors, including the Shikhar Samman (1986), Rani Durgavati Award (2009), and Padma Shri (2021), she has exhibited nationally and internationally, becoming a vital voice in India’s tribal art narrative and an inspiration for future generations of folk artists.