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Jodhaiya Bai

Jodhaiya Bai

Paintings featuring the vivid colours and centred around nature, forest ecosystems, and wildlife.

Baiga
Experience

17 years

Location

Courses

0

Artworks

10

About the Artist

Jodhaiya Bai Baiga, whose life is an inspiration not only to the women of the country but also to every aspiring artist, was one of India’s most respected tribal artists. Honoured with two prestigious awards, Jodhaiya Bai’s life represents an extraordinary journey from a labourer to a recipient of India’s fourth-highest civilian honour.

Jodhaiya Bai Baiga was born in 1938 and lived in the Lorha village of Madhya Pradesh among the Baiga Tribe. Jodhaiya Bai lived in the forest with her tribal community and survived by selling firewood and cow dung. Creating art was a part of the routine in the tribe. However, unlike her fellow tribemates, she radically transformed her life at the age of 69 when she met Ashish Swami, an alumnus of Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan, setting an enduring example that it is never too late to pursue one’s passion. Ashish Swami, who ran a small studio in the nearby village of Lorha, became her mentor and encouraged her to develop her practice as a folk artist, marking the beginning of her historic artistic journey.

From small paintings on paper, she progressed gradually to large canvases. Jodhaiya Bai’s art distinctly exhibits incredible use of colours and is rooted in the forests that surround her village. Many of her paintings are dedicated to Lord Shiva, and she enjoys painting the rituals and legends of the Baiga tribe. One of the elements that frequently appears in her paintings is Bageswar, the tiger god, who protects them and their lands from wild boars and wolves. But the life-giving Mahua tree is the star of several of her creations. Jodhaiya Bai’s art bridges traditional themes with contemporary concerns such as environmental destruction, industrialisation, and ecological loss, all expressed through the visual language of traditional Baiga motifs.

Her paintings have been exhibited in Bhopal, Delhi, Milan and Paris and are part of the prestigious Crites collection. Jodhaiya Bai Baiga’s works have appeared at several auctions and have consistently achieved remarkable results in the art market. Notably, her painting Untitled realised a price of INR 48,00,000 at Pundole’s in March 2025. In recognition of her achievement, she was awarded with Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2020 and the Padma Shri in Arts 2023. Jodhaiya Bai’s extraordinary achievements stand as a living testament to the belief that it is never too late in life to realise one’s potential.

Mediums

Canvas/Paper/Papier-mache/Carved Wood

Pigments

Watercolour/Pigment/Acrylic

Awards & Recognition

Nari Shakti Puraskar

2020

Padma Shri

2023

Artist Creations

Explore original artworks and creations by Jodhaiya Bai

Mahua Tree and Mahua Goddess
10% OFFCertifiedOnly 1 left

Tribal Art

Mahua Tree and Mahua Goddess

"Explore the world of Baiga art filled with narratives of tribal lives and nature around them. In this painting, Padmashri winning artist Joadhaiya Bai brings to life the sacred and most important, Mahua tree and along with her Mahua goddess standing under the tree. In Baiga culture mahua tree is considered to be sacred and important as a source of their livelihood, for medicinal purposes, food, liquor and also a shelter to the wild creatures. The deep reverence for this tree is seen through Baiga tribes traditions and rituals where this tree plays an important role. The Mahua tree in this painting is depicted blossomed with yellow flowers,with an animal and birds fluttering around. At the bottom of the tree we see a small green figure with yellow outline ‘The Mahua Devi’ (goddess), a deity worshipped by the Baiga people, a spirit of mahua tree who is symbolically associated with nature, sustenance and fertility. Jodhaiya Bai beautifully depicts this subject through her simple composition. Why add this painting to your collection ? -Hand-painted by late Padma Shri award winner Jodhaiya Bai Baiga, a renowned Baiga artist who began painting in her forties. Inspired by her homeland’s forests, Lord Shiva, and native motifs like the Mahua tree, her work earned national and international acclaim, including the Padma Shri in 2023. -A minimalistic yet striking composition – The bright, fresh color palette and simple design beautifully capture the Baiga community’s deep connection with nature and their spiritual beliefs. -Measuring 22 x 30 inches, this hand-painted acrylic on paper artwork offers a bold presence, making it ideal as a statement piece for larger walls in homes, offices, or cultural spaces. -Versatile decor appeal – The design blends seamlessly with modern, bohemian, or ethnic interiors, adding warmth and rustic charm. -A thoughtful gift for art lovers – Perfect for collectors of tribal art or as a special gift for housewarmings, festivals, or personal milestones. "

$ 6,789$ 7,539
Lord Ram and Lord Laxman in Jungle
20% OFFCertifiedOnly 1 left

Tribal Art

Lord Ram and Lord Laxman in Jungle

The depiction of Ram and Laxman in a jungle resonates deeply with the Baiga way of life, reflecting their profound connection to the forest. For the Baiga, the forest is a sacred space, the abode of deities and spirits, where they offer prayers and sacrifices. The Baiga rely on the forest for sustenance, gathering fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, and hunting, much like Ram and Laxman, who depended on the forest’s resources for survival. Additionally, the Baiga view the forest as a place of refuge during times of conflict or hardship, akin to how the forest provided sanctuary to Ram and Laxman during their exile. This shared reverence for the forest highlights the cultural harmony between the Baiga way of life and the narrative of the Ramayana, underscoring India’s collective heritage and its communities’ deep-rooted connection to nature.

$ 3,619$ 4,529
Kacchua The Symbol of Stability
7% OFFCertifiedOnly 1 left

Tribal Art

Kacchua The Symbol of Stability

"Kacchua: The Symbol of Stability" by Jodhaiya Bai, depicted in the Baiga art style, beautifully illustrates a turtle, which is a sacred symbol of patience, endurance, and longevity. The artwork is adorned with zigzag and dot patterns in vibrant shades of yellow, green, orange, and brown, capturing the turtle's intricate beauty. The white background allows the turtle to stand out, emphasizing its significance. In Baiga tradition, the turtle represents strength, wisdom, and balance in life. It is closely associated with the earth and cosmic stability, reflecting the Baiga people's profound respect for nature and the cycle of life. As a slow yet steady creature that carries its home on its back, the turtle symbolizes resilience and harmony—qualities that are highly valued in Baiga culture. Through this detailed and meaningful artwork, the artist highlights the turtle's spiritual significance and its important role in Baiga beliefs and traditions.

$ 9,809$ 10,559
Palash Tree: Flame of the Forest
51% OFFCertifiedOnly 1 left

Tribal Art

Palash Tree: Flame of the Forest

"‘Palash Tree: The Sacred Flame’ by Jodhaiya Bai beautifully showcases the Palash tree (Butea monosperma), also known as the Flame Tree, in the Baiga art style. The artist uses a white background to emphasize the tree, making its vibrant orange flowers and deep blue trunk stand out. The trunk is intricately decorated with fine yellow line patterns, adding both detail and texture. Surrounding the tree, green birds flutter gracefully, symbolizing harmony with nature. In Baiga tradition, the Palash tree holds significant spiritual, medicinal, and ecological importance. Its bright blossoms are utilized in rituals, natural dyes, and Ayurvedic remedies, while the tree itself represents renewal and resilience. The Baiga community, which is deeply connected to nature, views the Palash tree as a sacred bridge between the earth and sky, symbolizing life, energy, and transformation. Through this detailed and meaningful painting, the artist effectively captures the importance of the Palash tree in Baiga culture. Why add this painting to your collection? Handpainted by Late Padmashri award winner Artist Jodhaiya Bai Baiga. She began painting in her forties and was inspired by local Baiga motifs like the Mahua tree,Lord Shiva and her homeland’s forests. Her work has gained international recognition earning her a Padmashri award in 2023. Minimalistic composition with a bright and fresh color scheme stands out for its simplicity and portrayal of a slice of tribal life's connection towards nature. - Measuring 12x16 inches this compact sized composition is handpainted in acrylic medium on paper by the artist. -The composition fits perfectly within any style of decor, ideal for big or small wall spaces. -A perfect addition to artlovers collection, ideal for gifting on special occasions like housewarming or personal gifting. Take home a piece of cultural heritage handcrafted with love by the tribal artist, add the rustic charm to your interiors. Add to cart now! "

$ 2,049$ 4,229
Sacred Mahua Tree
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Tribal Art

Sacred Mahua Tree

In this striking composition, the Mahua tree stands as both anchor and deity - a central figure around which the natural world gathers. The artist channels the tribal visual language to weave a narrative of coexistence, wheretheMahua’spresenceisnotmerelybotanicalbut spiritual

Semer Tree
Certified

Tribal Art

Semer Tree

In this striking tribal composition, the mighty Semer tree rises like a guardian spirit The artist weaves a sense of ritual into the composition — the gathering feels less accidental andmore like a sacred congregation of thewild,drawnbythetree’s timelessembrace

Ritual: Marriage
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Tribal Art

Ritual: Marriage

Renderedinbold, luminouscoloursanddistinctivetribal style,thispainting evokes the electric atmosphere of a traditional marriage ritual. It is less a depiction and more a feeling - a vivid translation of ritual into pure visual rhythm.

Lord Shiva
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Tribal Art

Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva stands as the serene cosmic center, his presence radiating through rhythmic patterns and bold colours. Naradmuni, the eternal messenger, appears mid-chant, carrying divine melodies across realms, whileahumbledevoteeoffersprayers inreverence.

Untitled I
Certified

Tribal Art

Untitled I

A deity sits at the centre of the world, cross-legged and entirely at ease. The figure is orange from head to foot, the colour of turmeric and marigold and the particular warmth of festival firelight, and every surface of the body is alive with pattern. Bands of green, blue, red and gold ring the arms and legs in stripes. The torso is a field of embroidered forms, flowers, stars, leaf shapes and geometric borders layered across one another with the generous hand of someone who understands that abundance is itself a form of devotion. Gold necklaces sit at the throat. Earrings fall in drops from each ear. A white tilak marks the brow beneath a pointed green crown. The face holds the widest smile in the room, open, joyful, entirely unguarded, the expression of a being who has nothing to withhold. In one raised hand the figure holds a staff wound with a black and blue serpent, its head alert at the top. In the other, a small green and yellow vessel, held lightly, like an offering or a secret. Jodhaiya Bai is one of the most celebrated Baiga artists working today, a Padma Shri recipient whose paintings carry the visual memory of a community whose relationship with the forest, the divine and the decorative is ancient and unbroken. Her figures are never portraits and never symbols alone; they are presences, full of personality and ceremonial weight in equal measure. Painted in acrylic on canvas, this work announces itself without apology, a vision of the sacred that is also, unmistakably, a vision of joy. Why This Artwork Stands Out The all-over patterning of the figure's clothing and body, rendered in Baiga visual vocabulary, transforms the human form into a living textile of cultural memory. The serpent staff and ritual vessel situate the figure within a specific devotional iconography while keeping the mood festive rather than solemn. The radiant orange ground of the body against the plain white canvas creates an intensity of presence that makes the figure feel genuinely monumental at any scale. Jodhaiya Bai's status as a Padma Shri laureate and living master of the Baiga tradition makes this work both a significant artwork and an important cultural document.

$ 18,099
Jhaad Phoonk Bali
Certified

Tribal Art

Jhaad Phoonk Bali

The scene is busy with life and purpose. Across an open white ground, a gathering of figures moves through the stages of a ritual that has been performed in Baiga communities for generations. At the centre, a tall, broad-shouldered woman dominates the composition in purple, orange and yellow, her stance wide and authoritative, a bag held at her side. Around her, the world is in motion: a man in blue reaches toward a bird mid-flight, another figure lifts and gestures, children stand at the edges watching, a brown dog moves through the lower middle of the scene with the easy confidence of an animal who belongs. A rooster struts near the ground. Two small framed figures appear at the lower right, contained within borders of their own, as though they exist in a different register of the same story, perhaps seen, perhaps dreamt, perhaps remembered. Jhaad phoonk bali refers to the ritual practices of healing, spirit appeasement and sacrifice that form a central part of Baiga spiritual life. Jodhaiya Bai paints this ceremony not as spectacle but as lived experience, the ordinary and the sacred folded into one another without hierarchy or explanation. Each figure is rendered in the bold, flat colour and confident outline that characterises her hand: green skin, blue skin, the wide eyes of people entirely absorbed in what they are doing. Painted in acrylic on canvas, the work carries the visual logic of a community whose relationship with the unseen world is practical, immediate and matter-of-fact. Jodhaiya Bai, a Padma Shri recipient and one of the foremost Baiga artists of her generation, documents this world from the inside, with the authority of someone for whom these ceremonies are not subject matter but lived memory. Why This Artwork Stands Out The composition's open, frieze-like arrangement across the white ground gives the ritual scene a timeless, almost mural-like quality, each figure and creature occupying its own clear space within the collective action. The inclusion of animals, birds and children alongside the central healing figure reflects the Baiga worldview in which ceremony is not separate from daily life but continuous with it. The two framed figures at the lower right introduce a second visual layer within the composition, suggesting the presence of vision, spirit or memory operating alongside the physical scene. Jodhaiya Bai's status as a Padma Shri laureate and keeper of Baiga visual tradition gives this painting the weight of cultural testimony as much as artistic achievement.

$ 11,309