Tribal art, once confined to villages and forest communities, is now gaining recognition in major global art hubs such as London and Paris. The growing popularity of these traditional art forms is clearly visible at the ongoing Tribes Art Fest 2026 in the national capital.
The exhibition, which began on March 3 at Travancore Palace in Delhi, has already recorded sales of artworks worth around ₹30 lakh within the first few days. Several paintings displayed at the festival have also attracted interest from international buyers in Australia, Canada, Germany and Switzerland. The exhibition will remain open to visitors until March 13.
Women Artists Making Global Mark
Many women artists are gaining international recognition through their tribal art. Putli Ganju, a 50-year-old artist from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, is known for her traditional Sohrai art. Her paintings have been exhibited overseas and are increasingly appreciated by art collectors in Europe.
Similarly, Santosh Shyam, a 32-year-old artist from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, represents the renowned Gond art tradition. While she initially created artworks using natural colours and traditional techniques, she now uses acrylic paints and brushes to give Gond art a contemporary style.
One of her paintings has been priced at around ₹1.2 lakh, with growing demand for her work in countries like Australia and France.
₹15 Lakh Painting Draws Attention
One of the major attractions of the exhibition is a Gond art painting titled ‘Triyaphool’ priced at ₹15 lakh, created by Madhya Pradesh artist Ravi Kumar Tekam.
The 40-year-old artist, who has been practising Gond art for nearly three decades, said it took him around two and a half to three months to complete the artwork.
Tekam added that one of his earlier paintings depicting a lion and a wild boar fighting in the forest was purchased by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department for ₹25 lakh.
₹30 Lakh Sales in First Four Days
According to Ranjana Chopra, Secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, artworks worth around ₹30 lakh have been sold within just four days of the exhibition.
A total of 73 artists are participating in the festival, including more than 45 women artists. The government aims to provide tribal artists with a larger platform and connect their work with international markets.
Tribal Art from 16 States on Display
The exhibition features artists from 16 Indian states and showcases more than 30 different tribal art forms.
Visitors can explore traditional art styles such as Warli, Gond, Bhil, Dokra, Sohrai, Koya, Kurumba, Saura, Bodo, Oraon, Mandana and Godna, along with bamboo craft from Northeast India.
Expanding Opportunities for Tribal Artists
Officials believe that such events are helping tribal art gain national and international recognition, while also creating new markets and livelihood opportunities for artists.
The initiative also aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, which aims to promote India’s rich cultural heritage on the global stage.
Art enthusiasts in Delhi can visit the exhibition until March 13, where over 1,000 artworks by 73 tribal artists are on display at Travancore Palace.
