>BattyBot: /* Life */Removed/fixed incorrect author parameter(s), performed general fixes

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Life: Removed/fixed incorrect author parameter(s), performed general fixes

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{{Short description|Indian folk artist}}
{{Hatnote|Not to be confused with [[Ambika Devi]], the Jain deity}}

'''Ambika Devi''' is an Indian artist, who works in the [[Madhubani art]] tradition. In 2009, she received the National Handicrafts Award for her contributions to art.

== Life ==
Devi was born in Rasidpur village in Madhubani district, Bihar, and married into a family that was sustained by farming. She has stated that she initially painted at night, when work on the farm was completed, but later turned to painting as a career when she and her husband moved to Delhi.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Ambika Devi {{!}} NOVICA|url=https://www.novica.com/artistdetail/?faid=11100|access-date=2021-02-27|website=www.novica.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=2017-08-24|title=Madhubani art, a part of their daily lives|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/madhubani-art-a-part-of-their-daily-lives/article19548092.ece|access-date=2021-02-27|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Her mother, Leela Devi, and her sister are also both award-winning Madhubani artists.<ref name=":1" />

== Career ==
Devi has stated that she learned to paint and draw in the Madhubani style from her mother, Leela Devi, who was a well-known Madhubani artist herself.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Ambika Devi {{!}} Paintings by Ambika Devi {{!}} Ambika Devi Painting - Saffronart.com|url=https://www.saffronart.com/artists/ambika-devi|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Saffronart}}</ref> Her initial paintings were in the traditional form, done with white paint made from powdered rice, on the walls and floors of her home.<ref name=":2" /> Her childhood was spent in the Madhubani region in Bihar, where Madhubani art originates and she has described her early interest in the art as stemming from its prevalence: "As a child, I saw my mother and people at home painting everyday, so I was naturally drawn to this art at a very young age."<ref name=":0" /> Devi uses traditional motifs and patterns in her art, drawing from Hindu religious imagery as well as themes from nature.<ref name=":0" /> Devi prepares both, the paper and the paints that she uses herself, making handmade khadi paper and dyes sourced from plant and mineral material such as brown rice, tamarind, and charcoal.<ref name=":0" /> Devi has described Madhubani art as being an essential part of religious rituals in her community, with paintings used in religious and social ceremonies, including worship and marriage.<ref name=":1" /> In 2020, she and other Madhubani artists responded to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in India through art, depicting face masks, the washing of hands, and themes of isolation in the Madhubani style.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-05-02|title=Gods in face masks: India's folk artists take on Covid-19|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52464028|access-date=2021-02-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=How folk artists respond to a pandemic|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/how-folk-artists-respond-to-a-pandemic-89282|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Puri|first=Nikita|date=2020-06-05|title=The pandemic is finding eloquent expression in India's folk art traditions|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/the-pandemic-is-finding-eloquent-expression-in-india-s-folk-art-traditions-120060501600_1.html|access-date=2021-02-27}}</ref> In addition to her own art, Devi teaches Madhubani techniques and art to students, running workshops for the Government of India.<ref name=":0" />

Devi's work has been part of multiple curated exhibitions and is sold to collectors as well. Her work was one of fifteen artists represented in the Dastkar Fashion Show, an event organised by the magazine Marie Claire to bring together traditional Indian art and handicrafts with modern fashion design.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=Surya Praphulla|date=2020-05-30|title=When Indian folk art finds a viral muse|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/when-indian-folk-art-finds-a-viral-muse/article31707869.ece|access-date=2021-02-27|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Her work was also exhibited at the Nantong International Contemporary Craft Biennale in 2014.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Kamala Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship 2018|url=https://www.craftscouncilofindia.in/kamala-award-for-excellence-in-craftsmanship-2018-2/|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Crafts Council Of India|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2009, she received the President of India's National Handicrafts Award for her contributions to art.<ref name=":2" /> The award was presented for a painting that she prepared on a large canvas, measuring 3 feet across and 5 feet long, depicting the Hindu god [[Krishna]].<ref name=":1" /> In 2018, the Crafts Council of India awarded her the Kamala Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=And the Kamala awards go to...|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/apr/04/and-the-kamala-awards-go-to-1797019.html|access-date=2021-02-27|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> In 2021, she was awarded the Sanmaan Award for excellence in handicrafts by the Crafts Council of [[Telangana]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=India|first=The Hans|date=2021-02-11|title=Crafts Council of Telangana to present Sanmaan-2021 Awards|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/life-style/crafts-council-of-telangana-to-present-sanmaan-2021-awards-671442|access-date=2021-02-27|website=www.thehansindia.com|language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Ambika}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian artists]]
[[Category:Indian women artists]]
[[Category:Artists from Bihar]]
[[Category:Women artists from Bihar]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Ambika Devi (artist) - Revision history

>BattyBot: /* Life */Removed/fixed incorrect author parameter(s), performed general fixes