Dancing Peacock II

Sher Singh Bhabhor comes from a family of Bhil Artists. His mother, Bhuri Bhai of Jher, is known for her expertly sculpted mud reliefs and Bhil paintings. Sher Singh started learning from her at the tender age of 7, by closely observing her at work, gradually picking up the nuances of color, motifs, and the rhythm of storytelling embedded in Bhil art - that's when his artistic journey began. Being from the younger generation of a family of Bhil artists, his work is riddled with newness, with a contemporary touch. He gives new shape to the old tradition of Bhil art by embracing its style and merging it with the newer ones. Born in the Jhabua district of Bhopal, Bihar, Sher Singh was already painting on canvas by the age of 15. Unlike many traditional Bhil artists who relied primarily on a limited natural palette, Sher Singh experiments with a wide variety of color palettes and tones, reflecting his contemporary outlook. His work often blends ancestral Bhil motifs—dots, animals, deities, and forest life—with fragments of his personal experiences and everyday observations. In this way, his canvas becomes more than art; it becomes a diary, a visual chronicle of his evolving world. Sher Singh went on to contribute greatly in promoting Bhil art through an animated film called “Hum Chitra Banate Hain”, which beautifully explores the origins of Bhil wall painting traditions and the myths tied to them. The film went on to win the National Film Award in 2016, cementing Sher Singh’s place as not just a practicing artist but also a cultural ambassador for Bhil heritage. Today, Sher Singh continues to actively paint, exhibit, and collaborate, carrying forward his family’s artistic lineage. His work is celebrated for its balance of tradition and innovation, and he is regarded as one of the promising young voices shaping the future of Bhil art.