Curated by MAP Academy and presented in collaboration with the Museum of Art & Photography Academy, Bhuri Bai – My Life as an Artist is an exhibition of the artist’s autobiographical works. Previously a digital exhibition, this show pairs Bhuri Bai’s artworks with research from MAP Academy to illustrate her extraordinary personal journey.
Growing up in Pithol, a remote village at the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra, Bhuri Bai was the first woman from the Bhil community to transfer Pithora murals from structures to canvas and paper. This innovation allowed her work to travel worldwide, earning her the Padma Shri and global recognition as one of India’s most important contemporary Bhil artists. This exhibition invites audiences to step into the artist’s life through the artworks, tracing Bhuri Bai’s journey from childhood in the village to life as a celebrated global artist.
Bhuri Bai is a Bhopal-based artist, illustrator, and muralist celebrated for her pioneering contributions to contemporary Indian art. Hailing from Pithol, a remote village on the Gujarat-Madhya Pradesh border, she was the first woman from the Bhil community to transfer the Pithora style of painting, traditionally depicted as murals, onto paper and canvas.
Deeply rooted in Bhil traditions and folklore, Bhuri Bai’s works transform indigenous motifs into vivid compositions that explore themes of nature, community, and cultural identity. Transitioning from painting walls with natural pigments to experimenting with modern mediums, Bhuri Bai has gained recognition nationally and internationally for preserving and evolving the visual language of her community.
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