Sita Devi was born in Bihar, India, where she grew up immersed in the rich art scene of her region. Although she was illiterate, she taught herself Madhubani art on the walls of her house, using whatever leftover paint the local potters had. After marriage, she moved to the village of Jitwarpur.

Sita Devi was part of the wave of artists led by Bhaskar Kulkarni, who popularized Madhubani outside of Bihar and made it a viable career path for women today. Furthermore, in her hometown of Jitwarpur, she taught Madhubani to the local women to help them attain financial independence. She also spearheaded activism in Jitwarpur to help with local development.

Sita Devi's work has received lots of attention both in India and in countries around the world, such as Japan, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Not only did she receive statewide awards such as the Bihar State Government Award for Madhubani Art in 1969 and the Bihar Ratna Samman in 1984, but she also became one of the first Madhubani artists to gain nationwide recognition for her artwork, receiving the Padma Shri Civilian Award for art in 1981.