Artist of the Collection · Ranti, Madhubani, Bihar
Bimla Dutt
A master of line-led Mithila painting and its enduring mythic narratives.
Born in 1941 in Kako village, Madhubani, Bimla Dutt learned painting from her mother and elder sister. She developed a distinctive practice within Mithila painting, working with traditional subjects and a precise linear style.
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The artist
Tradition carried in line
Bimla Dutt’s practice is grounded in Mithila’s visual language: closely organised lines, mythic subjects and a continuity of knowledge passed through family and community.
Awards & honours
2009–10
Bihar State Award
Recognised for contribution to Mithila painting.
2017
Master Craft Woman
Recognition listed in Folkartopedia’s artist profile.
Biography
Biography
Bimla Dutt was born on 26 June 1941 in Kako village, Madhubani district. Her mother, Sursari Devi, introduced her to painting, and her elder sister Annapurna Devi further shaped her practice.
Known for line-based paintings on traditional subjects, she has also taught Mithila painting through government and cultural programmes. Her work has been shown in India and Japan and is held in museum and institutional collections.
Biography synthesised from museum, gallery and institutional profiles.
Selected exhibitions
Exhibitions & projects
Solo exhibition, Bhopal (2004)
A solo presentation of her paintings.
Journey of Mithila Painting, Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi (2007)
A group presentation of Mithila painting.
100 Folk Artists of Bihar, Patna (2014)
A showcase of folk art from Bihar.
Saraswati Foundation
In the collection
Explore works attributed to Bimla Dutt in the Foundation collection.
Artwork 307
View artworkPaintings in the collection
Research & further reading
Folkartopedia — Bimla Dutta profile and awards · Folkartopedia — Meet the Masters · Syracuse University Art Museum — artist record