Meet Bandana Jain, the Artist Using Trash Cardboard to Empower Rural Women

What if that forgotten trash cardboard box—yes, the one you chucked after your latest online delivery—could become a breathtaking sculpture displayed at an international exhibition? Sounds impossible? Well, not for Bandana Jain. This Mumbai-based contemporary artist is taking waste and weaving it into wonder. She doesn’t just create eco-friendly art; she breathes life into brown packaging, turning it into life-sized sculptures that capture hearts and headlines. But here’s the real twist—her work is not only redefining sustainability in art, it’s helping rural women rise with dignity and purpose. Intrigued? You should be.

The Cardboard Revolution: The Journey of Bandana Jain

Born in the small village of Thakurganj in Bihar, Bandana Jain broke the mould early, becoming the first woman in her family to pursue higher education. Her path led her to Mumbai’s prestigious Sir J.J. School of Art, where fate introduced her to an unassuming piece of corrugated cardboard. Its raw texture and silent potential struck a chord, igniting an obsession that would eventually reshape the landscape of sustainable design in India. From this humble start, she built an entire world—one where discarded packaging is sculpted into public installations, murals, and even functional furniture.

Her first major creation, an L-shaped five-seater sofa made entirely from cardboard, survived Mumbai’s monsoons and sceptics alike. This wasn’t just art, it was a declaration. Today, her art graces public spaces like Mumbai’s T2 Airport and Mt. Mary Church, bringing critical themes like heritage preservation and consumer evolution into the public eye. Her sculptures flow like fabric, especially her “Drape” series, which mimics the sarees of her childhood memories drying in the sun.

In 2013, she founded Sylvn Studio—India’s first cardboard-based art studio, nestled in Worli, Mumbai. But Bandana Jain didn’t stop at just creating—she began uplifting. Her studio serves as a hub where rural women from Maharashtra are trained to turn waste into art, earning income and reclaiming their self-worth. These women, once limited by circumstance, now co-create with an artist who believes in their potential just as much as in the strength of cardboard.

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She has since showcased her work in major exhibitions like "The Force Within" at Kala Ghoda and the profound “Brown Age”, an exploration of how digital consumerism has reshaped our visual environment through the lens of cardboard. Her accolades include the ELLE Décor International Design Award and the WADe Asia Award for sustainability.

Despite industry biases and the challenges of being a female artist in a male-dominated space, Bandana Jain never backed down. She carved space—quite literally—for voices that are often overlooked. Her art is tactile, thought-provoking, and transformational. From celebrating the mundane to empowering the marginalised, Bandana creates more than just art—she crafts movements.

Crafting Change, One Box at a Time

Bandana Jain’s story isn’t just inspiring—it’s essential. Her work is proof that sustainable luxury isn’t just possible; it’s powerful. Her sculptures speak, not just about environmental change, but social change. Through every crease and cut of recycled cardboard, she builds not just art—but opportunity. Want to see change in the world? Start by recognising the artists who create it.