1933 - 2001

B. Prabha has, on her canvases, immortalised the fisherwomen of Mumbai. Her representation of these simple, rustic women with their distinctive hairstyles and bright sarees is characteristic of her style.

Her first works were modern, freely rendered paintings. Her marriage to fellow artist, B. Vithal, in 1956, changed her perspective and she began to develop what was to become her signature style. She began to experiment and moved from modern abstract forms to more decorative watercolours. She held her first joint exhibition with her husband in the same year. Two years later, the works exhibited at the Bombay State Art Exhibition, saw B. Prabha making her mark in the world of art, and the start of a long and successful career.

B. Prabha's exploration of new media, styles and subjects continued unabated. Her paintings cover a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to social issues like droughts, hunger and homelessness. In time, her need for simplicity drew her to oils. Using this medium, she developed an elegant, formal style that remains her trademark to this day.

B Prabha comes from a close knit, middle class family, hailing from the village of Bela, near Nagpur in Maharashtra. She graduated from the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai. B. Prabha has held about 50 exhibitions, both in India and abroad. She has been the recipient of several prestigious awards.

B. Prabha passed away in September 2001.