Important Notice

Born in 1937 in the forested district of Umaria, Madhya Pradesh, Jodhaiya Bai Baiga spent much of her early life as a daily-wage labourer, gathering forest produce to support her family. Her artistic journey began at the age of 69, when artist Ashish Swami founded an open studio, Jangan Tasveerkhana, near her village. The space provided free access to basic art materials and encouraged experimentation, and it was here that Baiga first worked... Born in 1937 in the forested district of Umaria, Madhya Pradesh, Jodhaiya Bai Baiga spent much of her early life as a daily-wage labourer, gathering forest produce to support her family. Her artistic journey began at the age of 69, when artist Ashish Swami founded an open studio, Jangan Tasveerkhana, near her village. The space provided free access to basic art materials and encouraged experimentation, and it was here that Baiga first worked with clay, gourds and papier mâché before moving on to acrylic painting on paper and canvas.

Her paintings are rooted in Baiga cosmology and everyday life, structured around recurring motifs such as the Mahua tree, the tiger deity Baghesur, and the Hindu god Bholenath (Shiva), alongside scenes of forest fires, ritual ceremonies, sacred groves and mythological narratives. In recognition of her contribution to Indian art, she was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2022 and the Padma Shri in 2023. Exhibited internationally in cities including Milan and Paris, her work has introduced global audiences to the visual language of the Baiga community. Most recently, her distinctive vision and legacy were celebrated in Bloom at Dusk, her first major solo retrospective curated by Minhazz Majumdar at Ojas Art in New Delhi, held from January to March 2026.

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