Pune artist Shibani Dhavalikar builds global ceramic studio from Instagram hobby

Pune: In a Pune studio, artist Shibani Dhavalikar and her team hand-paint ceramic tiles in cobalt, green and burnt orange, inspired by Indian heritage and nature.

Eight years ago, Dhavalikar left her ed-tech job to pursue art full-time after posting paintings on Instagram. Early sales of wooden frames at flea markets led to bigger orders.

A failed wall-plate project pushed her to learn durable ceramic techniques in Jaipur. She now uses a specialized medium to paint directly on tiles without making the pottery herself.

Business grew during COVID. An Instagram message from an architect led to her first 1,000-tile kitchen project. Since then, the studio has done custom installations for homeowners, designers, and celebrities.

Actor Sonam Kapoor commissioned a 6,000-tile kitchen after finding the work online. The studio has also shipped tiles to Chile for a project featuring native flora and fauna.

Installations start at Rs 2,500 per sq ft. The 8-member team has completed tiles for nearly 100 kitchens in the past year.

“No ads, just honest sharing,” Dhavalikar says. “When people see the process, they understand the value of handmade.”