Tyeb Mehta, Painter
Painter

Tyeb Mehta

Born 26 July 1925 · Maharashtra — Died 2 July 2009

Created the iconic 'Diagonal Series' paintings that redefined modern Indian art.

Tyeb Mehta was an Indian painter, sculptor and film maker. He was part of the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group and the first post-colonial generation of artists in India, like John Wilkins who also broke free from the nationalist Bengal school and embraced Modernism instead, with its Post-Impressionist colours, cubist forms and brusque, expressionistic styles.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

Tyeb Mehta's 1969 'Diagonal Series' began from a moment of creative frustration when he threw a black streak across his canvas, forever changing his artistic style.

The Story

1
🎨 In 1947, while living near Mohammed Ali Road in Mumbai, 22-year-old Tyeb Mehta witnessed a man being stoned to death during Partition riots, an event that deeply influenced his stark and disturbing artistic themes.
2
After working briefly as a film editor at Famous Studios in Mumbai, he earned his diploma from Sir J. J. School of Art in 1952, joining the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group alongside F.N. Souza and M.F. Husain.
3🖼️ Between 1959 and 1964, Mehta lived in London, where he absorbed the expressionism of Francis Bacon, shifting his style towards brutal, fragmented human forms.
4In 1968, awarded a Rockefeller fellowship, he moved to New York and embraced minimalism, also creating the film Koodal, which won the Filmfare Critics Award in 1970.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1970, Tyeb Mehta won the Filmfare Critics Award for his three-minute film Koodal, filmed at the Bandra slaughterhouse, showcasing his multidisciplinary creativity beyond painting.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Tyeb Mehta receiving the Padma Bhushan from President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in New Delhi (2007)
Tyeb Mehta receiving the Padma Bhushan from President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in New Delhi (2007)
2007

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Kapadvanj, Gujarat
Tyeb Mehta was born in the town of Kapadvanj in Kheda district, Gujarat, before moving to Mumbai where he was raised in the Crawford Market area.
1925
📚
Education
Graduated from Sir J. J. School of Art
Mehta completed his diploma at the prestigious Sir J. J. School of Art in Mumbai, joining the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group soon after.
1952
⚡
Career
Moved to London
Tyeb Mehta relocated to London, where he lived and worked until 1964, drawing inspiration from expressionist painters like Francis Bacon.
1959
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Career
Received Rockefeller Fellowship
Awarded a fellowship by the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Fund, Mehta moved to New York, adopting minimalism and creating his award-winning film Koodal.
1968
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Career
Discovered 'Diagonal Series'
During a moment of creative frustration, Mehta flung a black streak across a canvas, accidentally inventing his signature 'Diagonal Series' style.
1969
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Career
Artist-in-Residence at Santiniketan
Mehta stayed at Santiniketan where his style evolved to include mythological themes like Kali and Mahishasura, blending Indian narratives with modernism.
1984
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Career
Celebration triptych sold at Christie's
His triptych 'Celebration' fetched Rs 15 million ($317,500) at an international auction, marking a high point in Indian art market history.
2002
🕊️
Death
Passed away in Mumbai
Tyeb Mehta died in Mumbai, leaving behind a legacy of transformative modern Indian art.
2009
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Tyeb Mehta’s painting 'Kali' sold for an astonishing Rs. 26.4 Crores in 2018, revealing the lasting commercial and cultural value of his mythologically inspired works.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

During the Bombay Partition riots of 1947, Mehta witnessed a brutal mob stoning that deeply marked his artistic vision, inspiring recurring themes of violence and human suffering.

03 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Tyeb Mehta’s family owned cinema houses and exposed him early to Indian films, and he initially worked as a film editor before shifting to fine arts.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Tyeb Mehta , the inimitable grand master of Modern Art in India
·YouTube
More from this archive
Tyeb Mehta , the inimitable grand master of Modern Art in India
01
Tyeb Mehta , the inimitable grand master of Modern Art in India
YouTube
Tyeb Mehta Birth Centenary Commemoration | 26th July 2025 at the Jehanghir Art Gallery, Mumbai
02
Tyeb Mehta Birth Centenary Commemoration | 26th July 2025 at the Jehanghir Art Gallery, Mumbai
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Tyeb Mehta reshaped modern Indian art by breaking from the nationalist Bengal School and integrating Western modernist techniques like cubism and expressionism, influencing generations of artists. His record-setting auction prices helped pioneer the international market for Indian contemporary art, while his works at Santiniketan bridged mythological themes with modern human conditions, enriching cultural dialogues in art institutions across India.

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