Maithilee is a creative practitioner inspired by folk traditions and community practices of art-making in the South Asian household. Growing up around women crafting decorative pieces for home, they became deeply invested in the slow and intentional processes of handiwork like knitting, origami, pottery, and embroidery. Especially in the age of AI and mass production, they believe handiwork to be radical and revolutionary.

As imli of imli.inks, they serve khatta-meetha handpoke tattoos to capture people’s vulnerable, silly, and beautiful selves. For them, tattooing is a collaborative effort with people offering themselves as a live canvas. The tattoos explore a wide range of visual metaphors derived from embroidery traditions and folk tales across the world.

Over the last seven years, they have written and designed for multiple non-profit organisations, utilising visual and literary storytelling tools for community-driven caste, class, gender, and mental health related advocacy.

Maithilee is supporting Rafunaama as a Project Assistant for the execution of the 2026 exhibit.