Mithila artists
Kalpa Vriksha
Pushpa Kumari
Born 1969, Madhubani, Bihar, India
Lives and works in Delhi, India
Pradyumna Kumar
Born 1969, Muzzafarpur, Bihar, India
Lives and works in Noida, India
Pushpa Kumari is a younger generation Mithila artist who has retained the Mithila paintings' distinctive styles and conventions while addressing new subjects. Mithila or Madhubani painting is an ancient art form traditionally practised by women in the Mithila region of Bihar in northern India and Nepal, and was initially painted primarily on the walls of dwellings. The works are characterised by intricate drawing, geometric patterns and elaborate symbolism. In her work, Kumari has focused on themes such as female infanticide and women's rights, as well as drawing on local epics and stories. She was raised in the village Madhubani and was taught by her grandmother, the acclaimed Mithila artist Mahasundari Devi. Her brother-in-law Pradyumna Kumar began painting in 2002 under Kumari's tuition and creates detailed, finely drawn works reflecting contemporary and traditional themes such as pollution or sacred trees. The artists have worked collaboratively on a number of occasions.
![Pradyumna Kumar / Muzzafarpur, Bihar, India b.1969 / Barasingha – The balance of life 2014 An ink drawing of a mythical creature with a large, round body and six hoofed legs.](/system/files/styles/wide/private/object-images/MITHILA_Pradyumna.jpg?itok=IAUm4D1I)
![Pradyumna Kumar Artwork Mango Tree of Life this artwork made of Ink on acid free paper, created in 2015-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2016.244_001_3.jpg?itok=lSOecqZc)
Mango Tree of Life 2015
- KUMAR, Pradyumna - Creator
![Pradyumna Kumar Artwork Pollution this artwork made of Ink on acid free paper, created in 2014-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2016.245_001_4.jpg?itok=Na5zF9cv)
Pollution 2014
- KUMAR, Pradyumna - Creator
![The artists Artwork Village Life this artwork made of Fabric paint on silk, created in 2015-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2015.216_001_3.jpg?itok=NW1uu6Xc)
Village Life 2015
- KUMARI, Pushpa - Artist
- KUMAR, Pradyumna - Artist
![© Pushpa Kumari Artwork Saving the girl child this artwork made of Ink on acid free paper, created in 2015-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2015.213_001_5.jpg?itok=M9lgN3Dr)
Saving the girl child 2015
- KUMARI, Pushpa - Creator
![© Pushpa Kumari Artwork Tsunami this artwork made of Ink on acid free paper, created in 2015-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2015.214_001_4.jpg?itok=W-JKiJqX)
Tsunami 2015
- KUMARI, Pushpa - Creator