Buddhist art originated on the Indian subcontinent following the historical life of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism during the 6th to 5th century BC. It traveled far and wide influencing the art and cultures of the regions it went to and was also influenced by the cultures of those regions, which it came in association with.
As the Buddhist art along with the Buddhist teachings spread, it evolved in each new host country. It developed to the north through Central Asia and into Eastern Asia to form the Northern branch of Buddhist art, and to the east as far as Southeast Asia to form the Southern branch of Buddhist art.

In India, Buddhist art flourished and influenced the development of Hindu art, until Buddhism nearly disappeared in India around the 10th century due in part to the vigorous expansion of Islam alongside Hinduism. In ancient India the Buddhist paintings were called chitrapatas; in Tibetan the Buddhist paintings became famous as Thangkas; and in Nepal these were called phauba. The Buddhist Art in Ancient India was represented in the form of sculptures and paintings. Paintings depicting Buddhist themes, Jataka tales (stories fro the last births of Buddha) and other illustrations, were executed as wall paintings, murals, mobile paintings and on the Buddhist Manuscripts.

Emperor Asoka (Mauryan Dynasty), King Menender (Greek Dynasty), King Kanishka (Kushan Dynasty), the Gupta and the Pala Kings supported the spread of Buddhism and the Buddhist Art in India. The Center for Living Tradition of Buddhist Art aims to the preserve and present the Buddhist art form through practice, exhibit and education.