K. H. Ara Biography 
K. H. Ara was a well-known artist and painter who lived in the 20th century in India. A trendsetter among his contemporaries, he was the first contemporary Indian painter to use the female nude as a subject. He belonged to Progressive Artists' Group, based in Mumbai, and was one of the founders of the Artists’ Centre in Mumbai. Though many critics criticized his works stating that they lacked perfection, not linked to life and being poorly executed, his works were popular. However some of his nude works invited controversies as well. Yet he remained a lifelong bachelor and asexual person throughout his life.
Krishnaji Howlaji Ara was born on 16 April 1914 in Bolarum, Secunderabad. His father was a chauffeur. He lost his mother at the age of three and his father didn’t remarry. At the age of 7 he ran away from his home and reached Mumbai, where he stayed rest of his life. During his younger days he did odd jobs like cleaning cars to earn a living. Yet he found time to ‘paint’ his passion. His work caught attention of first Rudy von Leyden, an art critic from the Times of India, and he had Krishnaji enrolled at the J. J. School of Art. He also participated in Salt Satyagraha for which he was jailed for 6 months.
He initially worked on landscapes and paintings on socio-historical themes before he switched over to nude paintings. Ara hosted his first solo show at the Chetana Restaurant in Bombay in 1942. It was a hit. Post-independence he got fully active in his career as a painter. He created a large canvas depicting an Independence Day procession, following Indian independence. From 1948 to 1955, Ara held several solo and group shows in different cities in India and abroad.
Published: January 28, 2019
Updated: January 28, 2019
