Uttam Chitrakar, 34, from West Bengal, has been creating Kalighat paintings for MeMeraki for nearly four years. “Before this, I only had the opportunity to showcase my work at government-funded melas, which happened infrequently in Kolkata. When Gupta reached out to me, things started to change. I began receiving consistent orders, and now, I exclusively work for MeMeraki, which has significantly improved my income,” says Chitrakar.
MeMeraki currently works with around 200 artisans, creating a sustainable livelihood for artists across India. Priti Karn, a 45-year-old Madhubani artist from Bihar, has been associated with the platform since 2020.
“Partnering with MeMeraki has opened doors I hadn’t imagined—through the power of technology, my art has reached a global audience, and I now have the opportunity to share this craft through workshops. It’s empowering to teach others and ensure that this ancient tradition continues to thrive in new and innovative ways,” she says.
With over 3,000 traditional crafts in India, how does MeMeraki decide which to feature on its platform? “We began with a list of 3,000 crafts and narrowed it down based on what would work for online teaching,” Gupta explains. “We focused on art forms that lend themselves to live workshops and masterclasses, though we’re now expanding to include handlooms and framed textile art.”