B. Prabha

B. Prabha (1933–2001)[1] was a major Indian artist who primarily worked in oil, in an instantly recognizable style. She is best known for graceful elongated figures of pensive rural women, with each canvas in a single dominant color. By the time of her death, her work had been shown in over 50 exhibitions, and is in some important collections, including India's National Gallery of Modern Art.[2]

B. Prabha
Born1933 (1933)
Maharashtra, India
Died2001 (aged 67–68)
Nagpur, India
NationalityIndian
EducationSir J. J. College of Art
Known forPainting
Spouse(s)
B. Vithal
​
(m. 1956⁠–⁠1992)​

Prabha started working at a time when India had few women artists. She was deeply inspired by the work of seminal modernist Amrita Shergil. Prabha was moved by the lives of rural women, and over time, they became the main theme of her work. In an [interview with Youngbuzz India, she said "I have yet to see one happy woman."[3]

Before moving to Bombay, she studied at the Nagpur School of Art.[1] She also received a diploma from the Sir J. J. School of Art, alma mater to many of India's great contemporary artists. In 1956 she married artist and sculptor B. Vithal,[4] who died in 1992.

Prabha came to Bombay as a struggling artist, with little money—"Rs2 and 11 paise." She sold some pieces of jewelry to raise funds. She and her artist husband were aided by friends who gave them a place to stay and by others who stored their art-work. Her first exhibition, while she was still a student, set her on the path to success when three of her paintings were acquired by eminent Indian scientist Homi J. Bhabha.

Career

When B.Prabha was still an upcoming artist, her work was acquired by Air India. Her paintings were used on menu cards and was displayed at the Air India Booking office in London. Her work was the basis of Air India's large collection of some of India's most illustrious artists, which includes M. F. Husain and Vasudeo S. Gaitonde.[5]

In her formative years, Prabha was interested in both music and art. On her brother's advice, she decided to choose art as her choice of vocation while finishing her matriculation. Her early work was modern freestyle painting. Over time she found her own signature style.[6]

She held her first exhibition along with her husband B. Vithal in the year 1956. Over the years she held more than 50 exhibitions in India and abroad.[7]

Exhibitions

She held two solo shows at Delhi's Kumar Gallery in 1959 and 1961. Her exhibition "Shradhanjai" was dedicated to her late husband B.Vithal. It was held in 1993 in Mumbai. Prabha's work has also been included in the group exhibition 'Contemporary Indian Painters' at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai in 1996. She was also a part of the Bombay Art Exhibition in 1958 where she was awarded the first prize.

Her work has been included in exhibitions such as 'Winter Moderns" at Aicon Gallery, New York; and 'Pot Purr' at Gallery Beyond, Mumbai, both in 2008.

Awards and honors
  • Awarded the First Prize at the Bombay State Art Exhibition in 1958
  • Received All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) Awards, New Delhi

References
  1. "A peep into artist B. Prabha's oeuvre and her inspirations". The Arts Trust Online Magazine. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  2. "B. Prabha: Abstract Figure painter". Tutt'Art. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  3. "Youngbuzz India's Premier Career Guidance Company". Archived from the original on 13 September 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  4. "B Prabha". Saffronart. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  5. Thomas, Maria. "The fascinating story behind Air India's priceless collection of art". Quartz India. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  6. "A peep into artist B. Prabha's oeuvre and her inspirations". www.theartstrust.com.
  7. "B. Prabha - Christies". artist.christies.com.
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