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Prakash Joshi

Prakash Joshi

Phad
Experience

years

Location

Courses

0

Artworks

17

About the Artist

Dr. Prakash Joshi is a distinguished National Award-winning master artist from Bhilwara, Rajasthan, and one of the foremost contemporary practitioners of the traditional Phad painting. Belonging to a lineage that has preserved and practiced this sacred storytelling art form for centuries, he carries forward a legacy that dates back to the 10th century. Deeply rooted in tradition, his work reflects both inherited knowledge and a lifelong dedication to the evolution of Phad. He was honoured with the National Merit Award in 2008, followed by the prestigious National Award in 2009, recognizing his exceptional contribution to Indian folk art. Over the years, his excellence has been further acknowledged through several accolades, including the Kalamani Award (2010), UNESCO Award (2014), and a Gold Medal in Folk Art (2016). In addition to his artistic achievements, Dr. Joshi holds a Doctorate degree from Global Human Peace University, reflecting his scholarly engagement with art and culture. Beyond his personal practice, Dr. Joshi is deeply committed to the preservation and propagation of Phad painting. He actively mentors and trains emerging artists, ensuring that this centuries-old tradition continues to thrive. His teaching extends beyond his studio to some of India’s most prestigious institutions, including IITs, IIMs, NIFT, and NID, as well as various international universities and cultural platforms. Through these engagements, he bridges the gap between traditional art forms and contemporary audiences. While firmly grounded in the classical style of Phad painting—traditionally used to depict local deities and folk narratives—Dr. Joshi has also played a significant role in expanding its visual and thematic language. He has introduced innovations such as the incorporation of Devanagari inscriptions, experimentation with composition, and adapting elements of miniature painting into Phad. His work goes beyond traditional folklore to include narratives from major epics, religious themes, and even contemporary and secular subjects, making the art form more relevant to modern viewers. Through his practice, Dr. Prakash Joshi not only preserves the authenticity of Phad painting but also reimagines its possibilities, ensuring its continued relevance in today’s cultural landscape.

Artist Creations

Explore original artworks and creations by Prakash Joshi

Ramayan
Certified

Folk Art

Ramayan

This green-themed Ramayan illustration captures the complete epic, starting from the Putrakameshti Yagya and the birth of the four princes. The narrative follows their education with Guru Vashistha, the slaying of Tadka, the redemption of Ahilya, and the Sita Swayamvar, leading into their exile and the abduction of Sita. Key sequences depict the battle with Bali, Hanuman's journey to Lanka, the burning of the city, the building of the Ram Setu, and the retrieval of the Sanjivani herb during the war. The artwork concludes with the defeat of Ravan and the return to Ayodhya, featuring the royal coronation (Pattabhishek) as the central focal point.

$ 2,049
Krishna raas leela
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Krishna raas leela

This vibrant artwork depicts the celestial Raas Leela of Lord Krishna during the auspicious night of Sharad Purnima. While traditionally rendered in Pichwai style, the artist has uniquely adapted this theme into the Phad tradition. Under a glowing full moon, divine observers including Brahma, Shiva, and Indra gather to witness the event. At the center, Krishna and Radha stand amidst blooming lotuses, surrounded by numerous Gopis, each dancing in rhythmic harmony with Krishna in this timeless spiritual celebration.

$ 2,049
Vinayak
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Vinayak

This artwork highlights Lord Ganesha as Vinayak, majestically seated atop the celestial serpent Sheshnag. He is flanked by Riddhi and Siddhi, who are shown performing ritual worship and waving ceremonial fans (Chauris). His vehicle, the Mooshak, is positioned in the foreground. Numerous deities, including Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Narad, and Lakshmi, descend from their respective realms to pay homage, while the Saptarishi stand reverently behind Ganesha, completing this grand divine assembly.

$ 519
Shiv puran
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Shiv puran

This artwork illustrates the Shiv Puran, focusing on Lord Shiva’s journey from his separation from Sati to his marriage with Parvati. It depicts Parvati’s birth, her intense penance to win Shiva, and the deities persuading Shiva to wed. The narrative includes the Saptarishis visiting King Himavan, the grand wedding procession, and Queen Maina’s welcome. It concludes with the birth of Ganesha, where Parvati creates him from clay, leading to Shiva’s intervention and Ganesha receiving an elephant’s head.

$ 1,409
Krishna Leela
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Krishna Leela

This painting illustrates the expansive Krishna Leela through a unique map-style composition centered on the Yamuna River, with Mathura situated to the right and Gokul, Barsana, and Vrindavan to the left. The narrative begins with the marriage of Devki and Vasudev, their subsequent imprisonment by Kansa, and the miraculous birth of Krishna, whom Vasudev carries across the river to safety. The artwork captures numerous legendary feats, including the slaying of demons like Putana and Bakasura, the lifting of Govardhan Hill, and the Raas Leela. The story reaches its climax as Krishna and Balaram return to Mathura to defeat a maddened elephant and ultimately slay King Kansa, successfully liberating their parents.

$ 3,849
Prithviraj chauhan and Sanyogita
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Prithviraj chauhan and Sanyogita

This historical artwork portrays the legendary love story of Prithviraj Chauhan and Sanyogita amidst the dramatic setting of her Swayamvar. Despite King Jayachand's animosity toward Prithviraj, Sanyogita’s secret letter compels the Delhi king to attend the ceremony in disguise. The painting depicts the pivotal moment where Sanyogita garlands a statue of Prithviraj—placed mockingly as a gatekeeper—only for the king himself to emerge from behind it. The narrative concludes with their daring escape, a fierce battle between the armies of Kannauj and Delhi, and their triumphant union in Delhi.

$ 1,159
Traditional pabuji ki phad 1
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Traditional pabuji ki phad 1

This traditional Phad painting is a vertically oriented composition that provides a condensed narrative of the folk deity Pabu ji Rathore. The artwork opens with auspicious figures of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswati, followed by the ten incarnations (Dashavatara) of Vishnu. A central theme of the piece is Pabu ji’s heroic expedition across the Sindh to Lanka to retrieve camels, illustrated through dynamic battle scenes. The visual story continues with the depiction of Pabu ji Rathore’s wedding and a formal portrayal of his royal court. Strategically placed near the court scene is his famous mare, Kesar Kalmi, along with the two Charan women from whom he obtained her. The painting concludes with various vignettes showing Pabu ji's triumph over several demons, successfully summarizing his legendary life in a compact format.

$ 1,159
Traditional pabuji ki phad 2
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Traditional pabuji ki phad 2

This artwork presents the traditional epic of Pabu ji Rathore in a distinctively antique-finished style. While Phad paintings are typically horizontal, the artist has adapted this extensive narrative into a vertical format, meticulously aged to appear over a century old despite being a contemporary creation. The composition begins with divine invocations of Ganesha, Saraswati, and the Dashavatara, followed by scenes depicting Pabu ji's birth and his regal court. The narrative detail is comprehensive, illustrating Pabu ji's wedding and his legendary conflict with Ravana of Lanka. A key sequence depicts the antagonist Khichi stealing camels, prompting Pabu ji to go to war to reclaim them. The visual story culminates in the fierce battle where Pabu ji achieves martyrdom (Veergati). Unlike the artist's other works that use a fresh color scheme, this piece is defined by its weathered, historic aesthetic.

$ 3,849
Traditional pabuji ki phad 3
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Traditional pabuji ki phad 3

Created in 2004, this National Merit Award-winning Phad painting offers an expansive visual narrative of the life and legends of the folk deity Pabu ji Rathore. The composition meticulously follows the traditional storytelling structure used by Bhopa and Bhopi oral narrators, opening with auspicious invocations of Lord Ganesha, the Dashavatara, and other sacred scripts. The artwork captures the quest for his famous mare, Kesar Kalmi, and his subsequent meeting with the deity Goga ji. A central theme involves Pabu ji fulfilling a promise made at his niece Kelam's wedding to provide camels as a gift. Much like Lord Rama sent Hanuman to find Sita, Pabu ji dispatches his trusted aide, Harmal, to Lankeya (in modern-day Pakistan) to locate the animals. The painting illustrates the strategic mission to retrieve the camels, the romantic union with Princess Phulwanti in Soda, and the ultimate sacrifice where Pabu ji achieves martyrdom while defending a Charani woman’s cows.

$ 8,979
Hanuman Chalisa
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Hanuman Chalisa

This artwork is dedicated to the Hanuman Chalisa, rendered in a striking red and gold color palette on a significant scale. The piece features the complete text of the prayer—including all three dohas and forty chaupais—meticulously written in Devanagari script. The painting is characterized by its detailed narrative scenes and powerful character expressions, carefully depicting Lord Hanuman's varying moods, from intense anger to gentle politeness. Every element, including atmospheric details like clouds, has been included to create a comprehensive and expressive visual representation of the sacred verses.

$ 3,849
Krishna Raas Leela
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Krishna Raas Leela

This artwork features the celestial Raas Leela performed on the night of Sharad Purnima, reimagined from the traditional Pichwai style into the Phad folk tradition. The painting is executed with a sophisticated gold and black outline, moving away from the large, simple designs typical of folk art to introduce a ""fine art"" level of intricate detail. The artist has focused heavily on minute details, particularly in the costumes of the figures, to elevate the traditional craft. The composition is unique for its double-round formation, showing Lord Krishna dancing with the Gopis in two concentric circles rather than the standard single ring. At the center, Radha and Krishna are depicted playing the flute amidst a setting that includes the Yamuna River, lotuses, and fish. The background is densely filled with stars and divine observers in the sky, ensuring every part of the canvas is rich with artistic detail.

$ 3,079
Hanuman Chalisa
Certified

Folk Art

Hanuman Chalisa

This rendition of the Hanuman Chalisa represents a stylistic departure from traditional color schemes, as the artist has opted to use a sophisticated gold palette defined by bold black outlining. While the visual approach is modernized, the sacred theme remains intact and comprehensive, incorporating the full textual content of the prayer. The artwork meticulously includes all three dohas and the forty chaupais that constitute the complete hymn, ensuring the spiritual integrity of the subject is preserved. By combining these traditional verses with a refined gold-and-black aesthetic, the piece offers a contemporary yet reverent take on this classic religious theme.

$ 2,049
Summer
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Summer

This painting is a representation of a summer’s day spent at the royal court. This artwork is a marked departure from the erstwhile religious themes seen in Phad paintings before and is a secular depiction of royalty enjoying a summer’s day. Idyllic representations of the King and Queen playing chaupar together, enjoying a boat ride in the evening, and a hunting scene are described here among various other scenes. The compositional style of using the river body to demarcate the painted area and the details created in gold and black outlines verily catch the viewer’s eye.

$ 639
Krishna Leela
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Krishna Leela

This artwork illustrates the various chapters of Krishna Leela using a distinctive geographical layout. The composition is divided by the Yamuna River in the center, with Mathura depicted on the right and the villages of Gokul, Barsana, and Nandgaon on the left. The right side of the painting captures significant events from Krishna's birth and his time in Mathura, including his escape from prison with Vasudev and the ultimate slaying of King Kansa. The left side of the canvas focuses on Krishna’s childhood and youth, featuring miracles such as the lifting of Govardhan Mountain, the defeat of various demons, and the divine Raas Leela. This specific piece is rendered in gold and bold black outlines, providing a rich, shimmering finish that highlights the most important scenes in a condensed, impactful format.

$ 639
Hanuman Chalisa
CertifiedOnly 1 left

Folk Art

Hanuman Chalisa

This miniature Hanuman Chalisa represents a significant technical achievement, as the artist pioneered this small-scale format in 2012. Measuring just slightly over 10 x 12 inches, the painting manages to house the entire text of the three dohas and forty chaupais alongside their corresponding narrative scenes. The artist notes that a work of this complexity at such a small scale is unprecedented in the field. The composition employs a selective color strategy, where blue and orange are used to draw the viewer's focus specifically toward the figures of Lord Ram and Hanuman. To maintain this emphasis, all other elements are kept muted and rendered primarily through intricate black outlines. Because of the extreme precision required for this scale, particularly in the written script and detailed scenes, a magnifying glass is recommended to fully appreciate the minute brushwork.

$ 6,409
Tree of Life (Cows)
Certified

Folk Art

Tree of Life (Cows)

This contemporary Phad painting explores the ""Tree of Life"" theme, featuring a majestic Banyan tree as its central element. Beneath the sprawling branches of the tree, the artist has depicted cows, creating a serene and symbolic scene. The artwork is set against a bold red background, a stylistic choice that differs from the original award-winning version. This particular subject holds significant prestige for the artist, as it earned them a UNESCO Award. While the original recognized work was a line drawing, this rendition incorporates a vibrant red palette to bring a new dimension to the celebrated design. The ""Tree of Life"" serves as a bridge between traditional folk motifs and a modern artistic vision.

$ 1,289
Krishna Leela
Certified

Folk Art

Krishna Leela

This blue-themed painting illustrates the expansive Krishna Leela through a unique map-style composition centered on the Yamuna River, with Mathura situated to the right and Gokul, Barsana, and Vrindavan to the left. The narrative begins with the marriage of Devki and Vasudev, their subsequent imprisonment by Kansa, and the miraculous birth of Krishna, whom Vasudev carries across the river to safety. The artwork captures numerous legendary feats, including the slaying of demons like Putana and Bakasura, the lifting of Govardhan Hill, and the Raas Leela. The story reaches its climax as Krishna and Balaram return to Mathura to defeat a maddened elephant and ultimately slay King Kansa, successfully liberating their parents

$ 2,049