This special exhibition assembles a rich collection of ritual, decorative and utilitarian objects that reflect the styles, subjects, values and aesthetic concerns of Indian and Indian-American artists and craftspeople. The exhibit offers many comparisons of regional variations of similar art forms and creative use of diverse materials.

Major art forms featured include:

Folk Paintings: Traditionally painted on walls and floors, smaller versions were later painted on surfaces ranging from scrolls and fabric to paper and palm leafs. Subjects could include religious or epic stories, as well as scenes of everyday life.

Carving and Inlay Work: Carvings in wood, metal, stone, and ivory are featured. Rare woods used in the carvings are identified with specific regions such as ebony and rosewood (Uttar Pradesh), teakwood (Kerala), walnut and deodarwood (Kashmir), sandalwood (Karnataka) and red sandalwood (Andhra Pradesh). Figures of deities and legendary characters as well as utilitarian objects reveal extraordinary mastership and artistic imagination, tell the story of the Indian beliefs and values as incorporated in varied visual expressions. Precious stones, beads, ivory, metal and other materials, used for inlays in stone, wood or metal objects, are usually associated with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, and Karnataka regions.

Weaving and Embroidery: Weavings in wool to cotton, silk, and bamboo invite regional comparisons such as the silk saris from Karnataka and Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Originally, Indian cotton and silks were hand-spun and hand-woven into a fabric called khadi.  Fabrics that use mill-spun yarn, but are still hand-woven are known as handloom. Embroidery on woven cloth of cotton, wool or silk gives example to stitches named after their place of origin, such as the phulkari and bagh stitches of Punjab or kutchi embroidery of Gujarat. Examples of mirrorwork from Rajasthan and Gujarat, and bangara from Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, which is a mix of appliqué with mirrors and beadwork, are also featured.

Beading: Unlike other traditions in which beads are stitched onto cloth to form a pattern, Indian craftspeople use no backing material at all. The work is very often created row by row using a tri-bead system. Many intricate patterns come from Kathiawar in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Pottery and Clay Sculptures: While pottery for daily use is produced throughout India, certain regions specialize in special ceremonial or decorative objects. Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Bastar regions of Madhya Pradesh, for instance, are famed for their votive figures of elephants, serpents, birds and horses. Clay figures of deities made for specific celebrations, and Masks, Jewelry, Costume Dolls and other figurines, Toys, Puppets, Leather crafts, Silver, Copper, Brass and Paper crafts are on display.

Featured artists in the exhibition include Narendra Amin, Alpa Thakar, Ritu Pandya, and Dhriti Bagchi. The exhibition story is told not only through the objects on display, but also by pictures, written narratives, audio- and video-materials that help visitors to better understand and appreciate the mastership of the folk and traditional artists.