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Artist Bio

Picasso of India – M F Husain

Maqbool Fida Husain, commonly known as M.F. Husain, was one of the founding artists of the influential Progressive Artists’ Group, (PAG) of India and was the most successful Indian artist who became known not only in his home country but around the world. 

Born in 1915 in Pandharpur, he attended school in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), where he began his painting career. Using freehand drawing and vibrant colors, he depicted Indian themes in a style that is known as Cubism. In 1947, Husain joined the PAG, which aimed at modernizing and promoting Indian art.

Husain began his career by making a series of Indian civilization paintings. But while his style of painting, and his themes, evolved throughout his life, he said he always aimed at becoming modern each and every day. After a series of portraits, he moved to paint cinema images and billboards for V. Shantaram’s Prabhat studios and New Theatres. He did not stop there: Husain then started designing toys and painted children’s furniture.

His famous and historic artworks are currently with elite collectors and global museum collections.

Husain left India, as he often did, as a wandering soul, because hostilities against him made it impossible to concentrate and focus on his artwork. Husain settled between Dubai, United Arab Emirates and London, England. Although media sources quickly labeled Husain as an exile from his native country, Husain never viewed it as such.

Instead, he became a producer and director of movies. For example in 2000, he directed Gaja Gamini. He also directed Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities, a film which was objected to by Muslim organizations. Through the Eyes of the Painter earned him the Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival. Husain stood out from his PAG counterparts because of his deeply rooted “Indianness”; he focused mainly on Indian folk art. According to him, one did not have to paint like Europeans to be modern. 

Husain was conferred Qatar nationality in 2010. While in Qatar, he worked on three major projects; the history of Arab civilization, the history of Indian civilization, and a celebration of the 100th year of Bollywood cinema in 2011. 

He mainly focused on Indian civilization and culture, and despite the criticisms that intensified even to threats to his life, he continued with this work in foreign countries. He did work up to the day that he passed away. His “Indianness” strengthened him and the PAG artistic community because he lived in Bombay for so long. 

Husain died June 9th, 2011, at the age of 95, after being ill for months, at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, England. It was one of the artist’s wishes to be buried where he died. He is buried at Brookwood Cemetery. 

Artist Timeline

Born

1915

Born on September 17th in Pandharapur, Maharashtra.

The Progressive Artists

1947

The Progressive Artists’ Group was founded, which included the artists K.H. Ara, S.K. Bakre, H.A. Gade, M.F. Husain, Krishen Khanna, S.H. Raza and F.N. Souza.

1948

Exhibition

Exhibition in New Delhi at Royal Academy

Travelled to China

1952

Travelled to China where he was inspired by the horses in the “Galloping Horses”, a painting by the artist Xu Beihong

1954

First Horse Series

He painted his first horse series painting “Passage of Time”

Won The Golden Bear

1967

Husain directed his first film “Through the Eyes of a Painter”, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival

1969

First Retrospective

He had his first retrospective at Jehangir Art Gallery

1971

Mahabharata Series

Husain exhibited his “Mahabharata series” at the Sao Paulo Biennale alongside Pablo Picasso’s artworks

Lightning

1975

Painted “Lightning”. Largest painting of the artist that he did at a critical time in Indian politics—activists and artists expressed their feelings in various forms. It was created for a political gathering Bombay that was led by Indira Gandhi. The historic significance of this painting is the time it was executed and the ideology it stands for!

1991

Padma Vibhushan

Was presented with Padma Vibhushan by the Indian government

Gaja Gamini

2000

Made the film Gaja Gamini, featuring Madhuri Dixit as the lead actor.

Lightning Sale

2002

In November 2002, he sold his painting “Lightning” in a private sale and became the highest selling artist in India

NY Horses

2003

M.F. Husain painted NY Horses series of eight paintings, “Horses of the Sun” for his 88th birthday at TamarindArt

Voyage of Discovery

2005

Husain painted one of his largest painting of all times, “Voyage of Discovery”, acrylic on canvas, which stretches 11 ft high and 45 feet wide. It is the autobiography of the artist.

2007

DualFaced

DualFaced artwork was commisioned by Tamarind Art for its own collection. Artist executed this work while in New York City.

DualPower

2009

DualPower artwork was commisioned by Tamarind Art for its own collection. Artist executed this work while in New York City.

2010

Qatari Citizenship

Husain gave up his Indian citizenship to become a Qatari citizen.

2011

Passed Away

Passed away in London UK in 2011

2018–2019

Asia Society Museum

“MF Husain: Art and The Nation”

“The Progressive Revolution: Modern Art for a New India”

At the Asia Society Museum of New York

The digital art collection of 333 NFT's with a high resolution 4k x 4k pixel image gives NFT collectors the ability to print a high quality image for home use only and/or to show the digital art NFT on any display device.