Mithila Folk Art · New Jersey
Shaily is a New Jersey-based artist carrying forward the Mithila painting practiced by the women in her family — turning ancestral symbols into contemporary works of devotion, nature, and memory.
About
Shaily is a New Jersey-based artist and IT professional from Ranchi, Jharkhand, deeply influenced by the Mithila art practiced by the women in her family. Formally trained in both fine arts and Mithila art, she draws inspiration from her roots and surroundings, blending tradition with experimentation. Passionate about preserving and promoting folk arts, Shaily hopes to pass on the legacy of Mithila art to future generations.
Selected Works
A growing collection of hand-painted Mithila, Tikuli, and Sohrai works, each rooted in ritual, nature, and story.
Sohrai
In the bold maroon-and-gold palette of Sohrai art, a mythical composite animal - part deer, part bull - coils across the…
Ritual
The many-armed goddess Durga, astride her lion, presides over a bustling festival marketplace below, where vendors, dancers,…
Ritual
This narrative painting illustrates the ten incarnations of Vishnu, each rendered with unique attributes and expressions.
Ritual
The dance of the fish incarnation is depicted with fluid lines and swirling patterns, capturing the movement of water and the…
Radha Krishna
Beneath a blossoming tree alive with perched peacocks, Radha and Krishna share a swing suspended above a lotus-strewn river at…
Ritual
Painted in the bold, angular style of Manjusha art native to Bihar, this piece shows a boatload of figures raised in unison…
Nature
This painting is a meditation on interconnectedness, depicting the Tree of Life with roots and branches that weave together in…
Radha Krishna
Radha and Krishna stand at the center of a blossoming lotus mandala, framed by dancing gopis whose swirling skirts form an…
Tikuli
Rendered in the fine black-on-gold detailing of Tikuli art, two women stand at a mortar and pestle, pounding grain in unison.
Ritual
Musicians sound the dhol and horn as a line of women dance beneath a canopy of blossoming branches, their golden skirts…
Nature
A tree stands half in leaf, half bare, encircled by animals fleeing rising flames while factories and traffic crowd the…
Sohrai
Inspired by the Godna tattoo tradition, this intricate black-and-white mandala radiates outward in concentric bands of birds,…
Nature
Inspired by the cosmic cycle, this piece depicts the sun's journey across the sky in radiant color.
Ritual
This epic retelling of the legendary bow of Shiva is rendered with dramatic contrasts and intricate detail.
Nature
This artwork explores the spiritual and geometric symbolism of the lotus, a recurring motif in Mithila art.
Radha Krishna
In this modern abstraction, the artist blends Mithila motifs with contemporary forms to explore the theme of unity.
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Sohrai
In the stark black-and-white idiom of Sohrai and Khovar wall art, paired peacocks, a deer, an elephant, and watchful owls…
Radha Krishna
Seven radiant sun goddesses encircle a lotus in this vibrant Madhubani mandala, their faces rendered with the fine, expressive…
Ritual
Ram and Sita sit enthroned beneath a radiant sun-faced halo, with Lakshman and a devoted Hanuman kneeling in reverence at…
Ritual
Through delicate linework and subtle color, this piece offers a window into the daily rituals of village life.
Radha Krishna
Rendered in warm sepia tones reminiscent of aged cloth, Radha and Krishna stand together beneath a cascade of ornamental…
Ritual
A bride is carried in a peacock-canopied palanquin as attendants play flute and drum alongside her, lotus blossoms and fish…
Ritual
This artwork honors the feminine divine through geometric abstraction and symbolic color.
Ritual
This painting narrates the legend of Vishnu's fish incarnation, Matsya, who saves humanity from a great flood.
Peacock
A peacock in full, jewel-toned plumage perches on a flowering branch, its tail cascading in a spray of orange and blue eye-spots.
Ritual
A trident-wielding figure stands amid rippling waters, flanked by lotus blossoms cradling watchful faces.
Ritual
Capturing the spirit of celebration, this painting features a group of musicians playing traditional instruments.
Radha Krishna
Drawing from the rich mythology of Krishna, this artwork depicts scenes of divine play and mischief.
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Nature
A closer study of the swirling fish mandala, this cropped view brings the concentric rings of koi and lotus into sharper focus…
Peacock
A vibrant celebration of the monsoon season, this piece captures the exuberance of a peacock dancing in the rain.
Radha Krishna
Across a lush green canvas, Krishna and Radha appear again and again amid banana trees, peacocks, and grazing deer, each…
Ritual
Seated in serene meditation upon a lotus throne, the Buddha is haloed by a mandala of radiating petals beneath the sheltering…
Ritual
A tribute to the women of Bihar, this piece portrays the communal spirit of the harvest season.
Tikuli
A Tikuli-style wedding scene unfolds beneath a banana-leaf mandap, the bride and groom exchanging vows as families gather on…
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Exhibitions, Fairs & Awards
A record of shows, workshops, and honors — search by year, venue, or keyword.
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Get in Touch
Reach the studio for commissions, workshops, or to inquire about original pieces and prints.