Born 1934 in Mumbai, Bhupen Khakhar was a leading contemporary artist who was part of the Baroda group and gained widespread international recognition. A self taught artist, Khakhar shifted tracks from his career as a chartered accountant to studying art criticism at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda in the late 1950s. His exploration of mythology, literature and cultural themes found new expression and medium through his work as an artist. 

Khakhar is known for his deeply honest and refined expressions. His work is figurative, and touches on the questions of everyday life. Often an active participant in his paintings, he drew from his own experiences, sexuality and references to give new relevance and volume to his work. Influenced by the British Pop movement, Khakhar developed his own pop narrative that anchored and responded to the contemporary Indian context. 

Beginning with his first solo exhibition in 1965, his work has found an audience across the globe with his painting exhibited as recent as 2009. His paintings can be found in numerous public and private collections, including the British Museum and the Tate Gallery in London, and the Museum of Metropolitan Art in New York. Khakhar was conferred the Prince Claus Award at the Royal Palalce of Amsterdam (2000) and the Padma Shri (1984), in addition to numerous awards and recognitions. 

He passed away in 2003.