About Syed Haider Raza

Born in 1922 in Madhya Pradesh, Raza studied painting at the Sir J.J. School of Art before going to Paris to study at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts on a French Government Scholarship in 1950. Influenced by European painters such as Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso and Gaugain, Raza had over the years created a style of his own. His paintings revolve mainly around nature and its various faucets and have evolved from being purely expressionist landscapes to abstract ones.

His painting titled ‘Saurashtra’ became the most expensive Indian painting ever auctioned, and was bought by Kiran Nadar Museum of Arts, Delhi for USD 3.5 million in 2010. He believes the Bindu (dot) to be the center of creation and existence and his works reflect this particular thinking. A strong colourist Raza's painting resonate the passionate hot colours of India with all their symbolic, emotive value. A founder member of the Progressive Artists' Group Raza participated actively in the Group's activities, stimulated many discussions in the early struggle to develop a modernist language and presented several exhibitions of his paintings in India before leaving for France. In 1956, he became the first non-French artist to be honoured with Prix de la critique award in Paris. Raza has participated in or been the subject of numerous exhibitions and Biennales throughout the world. He has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1981 and Padma Bhushan in 2007. Raza lived and worked in Paris and in Gorbio in South France till 2010 and has lately moved back to New Delhi.