S. H. Raza, Painter
Painter

S. H. Raza

Born 22 February 1922 · Madhya Pradesh — Died 23 July 2016

Co-founded the Progressive Artists' Group in Bombay in 1947, revolutionizing modern Indian art.

Sayed Haider Raza was an Indian painter who lived and worked in France for most of his career. He moved to France in 1950, marrying the French artist Janine Mongillat in 1959. Following her death from cancer in 2002, Raza returned to India in 2010, where he would live until his death.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Raza was the first non-French artist to win the prestigious Prix de la critique in Paris in 1956.

The Story

1
🎨 In 1956, S.H. Raza became the first non-French artist to win the Prix de la critique in Paris, cementing his place within the European modern art scene and signaling a turning point in his international recognition.
2
Born in 1922 in Kakkaiya, Madhya Pradesh, Raza's early years near the Kanha forest deeply influenced his art, inspiring landscapes that evolved into abstract expressions reflecting his childhood connection with nature.
3In 1947, the same year Raza co-founded the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group, his parents died and most of his siblings migrated to Pakistan, marking a year of personal upheaval that shaped his artistic vision.
4🖌️ Raza’s iconic painting, Saurashtra, sold for ₹16.42 crore at Christie's auction in 2010, one of the highest prices ever fetched by an Indian modernist artwork, highlighting his market impact and collector value.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 2010, Raza’s painting Saurashtra sold for ₹16.42 crore ($3.48 million) at Christie's, marking one of the highest auction prices for an Indian modernist artwork at that time.

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Through the Years

4 photographs from the archives
S. H. Raza visiting artist Beohar Rammanohar Sinha to view his paintings (1992).
S. H. Raza visiting artist Beohar Rammanohar Sinha to view his paintings (1992).
1992
Portrait of S. H. Raza, renowned Indian painter, captured in 1995.
S. H. Raza attending the Delhi Art Summit showcasing contemporary Indian art (2011).
S. H. Raza receiving the Padma Vibhushan Award from President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi (2013).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Kakkaiya, Madhya Pradesh
Sayed Haider Raza was born in the village of Kakkaiya in Mandla district, Central Provinces (now Madhya Pradesh), India.
1922
📚
Education
Studied at Nagpur School of Art
Raza enrolled at Nagpur School of Art, where he studied from 1939 to 1943, developing foundational skills in painting.
1939
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Career
Co-founded Bombay Progressive Artists' Group
Alongside K.H. Ara and F.N. Souza, Raza helped found the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group to revolutionize Indian modern art.
1947
📚
Education
Moved to Paris for advanced studies
Received French government scholarship and joined École Nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris to study fine arts.
1950
🏅
Award
Won Prix de la critique in Paris
Became the first non-French artist to receive the Prix de la critique, an important French art award recognizing critical acclaim.
1956
🌟
Other
Married Janine Mongillat
Raza married French artist Janine Mongillat, marking a personal and artistic partnership lasting until her death in 2002.
1959
⚡
Career
Returned to India after decades abroad
Following Janine’s death, Raza returned to India, reconnecting with his roots and continuing to paint until his death.
2010
🕊️
Death
Death in New Delhi
S.H. Raza passed away in New Delhi at the age of 94, closing a prolific chapter of Indian modern art history.
2016
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Raza moved to Paris in 1950 on a Government of France scholarship to study at École Nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, where he stayed for over six decades.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

His early teacher encouraged him at age 8 to focus on a single dot on a wall, inspiring the lifelong exploration of the 'Bindu' motif in his art.

03 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

In 1947, the year Raza co-founded the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group, he also faced personal tragedy with the death of both parents and the partition-driven migration of most siblings to Pakistan.

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"To draw and paint is an elementary thing, it has to be done. But it can be a mental process, intellectual process, thought process."

— S. H. Raza

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Inauguration of Solo Exhibitions by S. H. Raza

🌱 What changed because of them

S.H. Raza reshaped Indian modern art by integrating indigenous spiritual symbols with Western abstract forms, influencing generations of artists through the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group. His global exhibitions and awards fostered international recognition for Indian modernism, while his return to India revitalized contemporary Indian art discourse. Institutions like the Lalit Kala Akademi honored him, cementing his role in bridging Indian and Western artistic traditions.

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