Krishnaji Howlaji Ara

Krishnaji Howlaji Ara, known as K.H. Ara, was a pioneering Indian modernist painter and a founding member of the Progressive Artists' Group of Bombay, established in 1947. Self-taught, he rose from humble origins as a domestic servant to become one of India's most celebrated artists, known for his sensuous depictions of women, flowers, and still lifes rendered in bold, vibrant colors. His work bridged traditional Indian aesthetics with Western modernist influences, earning him a distinguished place in the canon of Indian contemporary art.