About Maqbool Fida Husain

Born in 1915 in Maharashtra, Husain is one of the most enigmatic artists of India and is known for his vigorous appreciation of the human circumstances and the traces of it can be found in his masterpieces. Often called as the "Picasso of India", Husain's endless quest for his cultural roots and a fearlessly open-minded willingness to absorb diverse influences has made him one of the most recognizable figure of contemporary Indian art.

At an early age, he learnt the art of calligraphy and practiced the Kulfic Khat with its geometric form. He started off by painting cinema hoardings after moving to Mumbai in 1935. He was invited to join the Progressive Artists’ Group in 1947 by F.N. Souza after his public exhibition of paintings. By 1966 Husain went on to become one of the foremost artists in India and was awarded the grand Padma Shri. He has participated in or been the subject of numerous exhibitions throughout the world. In 1971, he was invited along with Pablo Picasso at the Sao Paulo Biennial. There have been many publications on his work, notably Bartholomew and Kapur’s monograph. Husain was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Indian Government in 1973 and Padma Vibhushan in 1991, all high civilian honours. He is also a film maker and was a Member of Parliament from 1986 to 1992. Husain divides his time between Doha, Dubai and London.