M F Husain

He was one of the founding members of Bombay Progressive Artist's Group. M.F. Husain is associated with Indian modernism in the 1940s. His early association with the Bombay Progressive Artist's Group used modern technique, and was inspired by the "new" India after the partition of 1947. His narrative paintings, executed in a modified Cubist style, can be caustic and funny as well as serious and sombre. His themes—sometimes treated in series—include topics as diverse as Gandhi, Mother Teresa, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the British Raj, and motifs of Indian urban and rural life. In September 2020, his painting titled “Voices”, auctioned for a record $2.5 million.

Husain's later works have stirred controversy, which included nude portrayals of Hindu deities, and a nude portrayal of Bharat Mata. Right-wing organisations called for his arrest, and several lawsuits were filed against him for hurting religious sentiments. He remained in a self-imposed exile from 2006 until his death in 2011, accepting Qatari citizenship in 2010.

Husain  picked up taste in art through studying calligraphy while he stayed at a Madrasa in Baroda. Husain attended the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art in Mumbai. Early in his career, Husain painted cinema posters in Mumbai. To earn additional income, he worked for a toy company designing and building toys.

Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1947.

First Prize at the National Exhibition of Art , Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi in 1955.

International Biennale Award , Tokyo in 1959.

Padma Shri , Government of India in 1966.

Golden Bear short film award for his film Through the Eyes of a Painter at Berlin International Film Festival  and purchased by Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York City in 1967.

National Film Award for Best Experimental Film for Through the Eyes of a Painter, in 1968 .

Padma Bhushan, Government of India  in 1973.

Padma Vibhushan , Government of India in 1991.

Aditya Vikram Birla ‘Kalashikkar’ Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1997.

Honorary Doctorates from Banaras Hindu University, Jamia Millia Islamia, University of Calicut (2003) and University of Mysore.

National Art Award , Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi in 2004.

Raja Ravi Varma Award, Government of Kerala  in 2007.