Born and raised in Kolkata, Mahua Lahiri’s artistic journey has been deeply shaped by her mother, Padmashree recipient Sreemati Pritikana Goswami, a revered revivalist of Kantha craft. Although Mahua grew up surrounded by Kantha’s intricate stitches, she initially viewed it as her mother’s passion, not her own.Determined to carve an independent path, Mahua pursued a career in design, excelling academically at NIFT and ascending to the role of CEO in the leather design industry. Her professional success was a testament to her dedication and talent. However, a pivotal moment came in 2015 during an exhibition in Amsterdam celebrating indigenous crafts. There, Mahua felt a profound connection to her roots, recognizing Kantha not merely as a craft but as a rich cultural tapestry interwoven with history, identity, and heritage. This realization prompted her return to Kolkata, where she left behind her corporate career to apprentice under her mother and immerse herself in Kantha. Mahua’s commitment to this art form has earned her accolades, including the prestigious AD JSW Award in 2023. She has become an advocate for preserving and innovating traditional crafts, lecturing at NIFT and presenting at esteemed institutions like The George Washington University Museum, USA, and Jamshedpur Women’s College. Today, Mahua’s work redefines Kantha by blending its traditional motifs with contemporary abstraction, transforming the craft into a modern art form. Her intricate creations explore whether tradition loses its essence with innovation or gains renewed relevance. Through her stitches, she bridges generations, merging symbolic patterns with fresh techniques to create a dialogue that honors legacy while embracing evolution. Mahua’s artistry fosters a reflection on cultural continuity, questioning whether tradition fades or adapts in the face of modernity. By blurring the lines between creator and creation, her work becomes a meditation on heritage, transformation, and the enduring power of art. Lahiri crafts a narrative that celebrates the past while envisioning an inspired future for Kantha.