For four women artisans from Bihar, Bengaluru is now more than just another city on the map. It is where their art is being seen, appreciated, and recognised. At MAATI- The Crafts School’s two-day showcase at SABHA on Kamraj Road recently, visitors were immersed in intricate hand-painted textiles, wall art, table covers and home furnishings rooted in the traditions of Mithila painting. But beyond the vibrant colours and painstaking details, lies a deeper story: one of women learning to see themselves not merely as artisans, but entrepreneurs.

MAATI, short for Mithila Art Artisan Transformative Initiative, is an initiative of Kadam and is supported by Tata Trusts. They work with women artisans from Madhubhani and Darbhanga in Bihar. MAATI hopes to change that by equipping women with skills that go beyond painting. Artists Ram Dulari Devi, Rubi Devi, Anjali Kumari and Priyanjali Kumari made their way to Bengaluru where their work was showcased .

Fifty-year-old Ram Dulari Devi says, “With MAATI, I find myself creating new designs and experimenting with my own technique. I’ve been doing this a long time, but doing things differently makes me feel very good about my art. We’ve never done this art with so much thought and process.”

Value of labour

The initiative trains artisans in pricing, marketing, business management, and branding. The goal is simple but rewardingly transformative: to help them build independent livelihoods and eventually, run their own collectives.

“Until now, many artisans did not account for the value of their own labour,” explains Chhavi Saklani, who works with the programme. “The time, effort, and skill that went into creating a piece was often overlooked because they saw it as art, not work.”

Perhaps the most important aspect of the whole exhibition is the emphasis on personal identity. Each artisan is encouraged to develop their own brand and logo, making it recognisable.

Pallavi Gaur, the programme director, believes this process is so much more than just design. “When women create their own logos and brand identities, they begin to understand ownership,” she said. “They learn to hold their own while we support them.”

The stories behind these brands are as compelling as the artworks themselves. One young artisan created her brand NIRVA, which reflects her ambition to become a police officer and advocate for women. Another artisan, Rimjhim’s Rimmi supports her younger brother’s education through her paintings and artwork.

Staying rooted yet looking forward

The exhibition showcased how traditional craft can actually evolve without losing its roots. Alongside classical Madhubhani motifs such as the peacock, and fish, we encountered contemporary interpretations inspired by Bihar’s landscape, including the region’s famed Makhana seeds.

Traditional techniques are now being applied to new products, from table cloths to bed covers, vastly expanding the possibilities for this craft.

Delicate lines, dense patterns, and intricate detailing cover every surface, giving the impression of printed work rather than being hand painted. Some pieces take months to complete, demanding extraordinary patience and precision, much like the Godna paintings.

The artisans expressed how free and valued MAATI makes them feel. “From believing our work was just like any other to being able to come here in a plane, and put it up and actually see how people interact with it is an unbelievable feeling,” artist Priyanjali Kumari said. “We can’t believe it, even though we are standing here.”