Kalyan Joshi belongs to a 700 year old line of Phad artists from Rajasthan. Traditionally, a Phad (literally, fold) was 15 to 30 feet long cloth, illustrating stories of folk deities. The priest used the Phad to narrate the stories, unfolding it and singing it out, as his wife danced the tale. Kalyan Joshi’s artistic contributions to Phad are immense, as he has expanded its form, medium and themes while staying true to its core principles. Kalyan Joshi’s work has been part of many exhibitions and collections in India, as well as internationally, and he received the National Award in 2006 and 2010. He also founded the Ankan Kala Sanstha to spread awareness about Phad and help preserve it for future generations.
