S.H. Raza (1922 – 2016) was one of the most influential Indian painters of the 20th century. His early training in France led him to explore Modernist styles through landscape painting, beginning with Expressionism and later
transitioning to geometric abstraction.
In the 1970s, Raza began focusing on pure geometry—most notably the bindu (dot)—which became a central motif in his work. His art, though stylistically varied, consistently emphasized color, memory, and mood of the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group, formed with K.H. Ara and F.N. Souza. Thegroup sought to move away from colonial realist traditions and develop a uniquely Indian modernist visual language.
Over his lifetime, Raza's work was shown in major exhibitions worldwide, including the São Paulo Biennale, Royal Academy in London, and the
NGMA in New Delhi. He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1981 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007.
Raza was a founding member