Warli Painting

Sanjay Balkrishna Parhad

Maharashtra

Sanjay Balkrishna Parhad is a Warli artist associated with the Khambale, Vangaon/Dahanu region of Palghar, Maharashtra. His practice focuses on traditional Warli storytelling, portraying village life, farming, nature, animals, festivals and community traditions through the distinctive geometric language of Warli art. His handmade works reflect the cultural heritage of Maharashtra and the enduring storytelling traditions of the Warli community.

The Story

Sanjay Balkrishna Parhad is a practitioner of traditional Warli art from the Khambale, Vangaon/Dahanu region of Palghar district, Maharashtra. His work is rooted in the visual traditions of Warli painting, an art form closely associated with the Warli community and known for its distinctive geometric style and storytelling.

Through his paintings, Sanjay portrays scenes inspired by village life, farming, nature, animals, festivals, rituals and community celebrations. Tarpa dance and other elements of rural life frequently appear within the visual vocabulary of Warli art, creating compositions that reflect the relationship between people, nature and community.

Traditional Warli paintings use simple geometric forms such as circles, triangles and squares to create expressive human and animal figures. Historically, the paintings were made on mud walls using white pigment prepared from rice paste. Contemporary Warli artists also work on surfaces such as cotton cloth and may use traditional natural materials as well as modern colours, depending on the artwork.

Sanjay's work represents the continuing practice of this traditional art form, bringing the cultural stories and visual heritage of Maharashtra to contemporary audiences. His artworks have been exhibited in India and internationally, contributing to the wider appreciation of Warli painting and its rich cultural tradition.