Sita Devi was one of the pioneering Mithila artists who brought the tradition from village walls to the international art stage. Born in Jitwarpur, Bihar, she began painting on the walls of her home as part of ritual practice and eventually transferred these images to paper when the 1966 Government of India earthquake relief program first provided paper to Mithila women artists.

Her work is characterized by the Bharni style — dense, bold forms filled with vivid flat color, featuring gods, goddesses, and scenes from the epics. Her paintings were exhibited across India, Japan, Europe, and the United States, and she received the Padma Shri in recognition of her lifelong contribution to Indian art.

Sita Devi’s work is held in the permanent collections of several major museums and has been the subject of scholarly attention for its power, clarity, and deeply spiritual character.