
Santoshi Shyam
Graceful depictions of animals and birds rooted in legacy
15 years
0
14
About the Artist
From the very beginning, art was not just around her, it was in her blood. Her mother Rambai was a Gond artist and her father, Narmada prasad Tekam, also a respected Gond painter, carried forward the legacy of Jangarh Singh Shyam, the pioneer who placed Gond art on the global map. Growing up, her childhood was spent largely in Bhopal in an environment where Santoshi absorbed the artistic language of her people almost unconsciously. The dotting, the lines, the rhythmic filling of forms that turned simple animals and trees into mythic presences.
Santoshi Shyam’s true journey began in Patangarh, the birthplace of Gond painting. She began painting in quieter moments, her work flowing naturally toward depictions of birds, wild animals, and village life. Over time, her canvases matured into textured stories, not just motifs, but living echoes of Gond cosmology.
Recognition followed. Santoshi’s works were featured in the Tribal Museum’s prestigious Likhandra Gallery under the “Shalaka” solo exhibition series, a rare honour that affirmed her individual voice. She has also received the Kalidasa Award, marking her as one of Gond art’s powerful female voices. Today, she continues to create alongside her husband, Gond artist Rajendra Shyam Tekam, both as an artist and a partner in preserving Gond’s timeless stories. Her art balances heritage with individuality to carry forward Gond’s memory while painting her own story into its future.
Mediums
Acrylics on paper/canvas, Gond motifs
Pigments
100% natural colours or Acrylics
Artist Creations
Explore original artworks and creations by Santoshi Shyam
Paintings
Crocodile - The Guardian of River
Explore the beauty of tribal art, authentically hand-painted by the tribal artis...
Paintings
Lord Ganesh painting the peacock
"Experience the beauty, divinity and the blend of tribal with modern contemporar...
Paintings
The Tribal Goddess
Artist Santoshi Shyam is a renowned Gond artist known for her vibrant Gond paint...
Paintings
The World on a Turtle's Back
Award winning artist Santoshi Shyam takes you into a symbolically rich, vibrant ...
Paintings
Circle of Birds
‘Circle of Birds’ by renowned Gond artist Santoshi Shyam is a captivating celebr...
Paintings
Blessings of Lord Ganesha
Santoshi Shyam’s ‘Blessings of Lord Ganesha’ shows a traditional yet contemporar...
Paintings
Leopard & Squirrel
This captivating Gond artwork is created by acclaimed tribal artist Santoshi Shy...
Paintings
Embrace of the Forest
There’s a quiet poetry in this painting, a moment where the deer and the tree ar...
Paintings
The Divine Ganesha
This stunning Gond art by renowned Gond artist Santoshi Shyam depicts Lord Ganes...
Paintings
Barasingha and Birds
Bring home the spirit of the forest with this authentic Gond tribal painting by ...
Paintings
The Dynamic Bull and Birds
Experience the soul of tribal storytelling through this authentic Gond artwork b...
Paintings
The Leopard Family
Explore the world of Indian forests through the lens of Gond tribal art. ‘The Le...
Paintings
Swamp Deer with Her Babies
Explore the world of Gond tribal art through the lens of artist Santoshi Shyam. ...
Paintings
Five Peacocks in One Body
This enchanting Gond painting by renowned artist Santoshi Shyam features five gr...













