Although Karpoori Devi never recieved a full formal education, her childhood was still rich with learning experiences. From a young age, her mother educated her in the ancient art of Madhubani, and Karpoori Devi would assist the other women of her village in creating elaborate murals on the walls of their homes. She was part of a network of famous Madhubani artists in her village, many of whom have been covered in previous editions of the Famous Artist spotlight, including her sister-in-law Mahasundari Devi, and her student Dulari Devi.

Karpoori Devi was part of the generation of Madhubani artists who popularized Madhubani outside of India by transferring their practice to portable mediums such as paper and canvas. Once Madhubani was turned into something people could purchase, the path to financial independence via a career in art was paved for future generations of Bihari women. Also, Karpoori Devi mentored Dulari Devi, a Padma Shri award winning artist who served as the hired help for Mahasundari Devi (Karpoori Devi's sister-in-law), an example of her commitment to passing the tradition of Madhubani down to future generations.

Karpoori Devi has received numerous awards, including a Bihar State Award in 1980, a Best Craftsman Award in 1983, and a National Award for Sujni Art (a traditional Bihari textile art form) in 1986. She has also had her artwork displayed across the world in prestigious museums and galleries. She was invited multiple times to the Mithila Art Museum in Japan, she had her work displayed in Asian Art Museum's "Painting Is My Everything" exhibit in 2018, and her artwork is currently in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.