R.B. Bhaskaran

R. B. Bhaskaran is an Indian modern artist recognised for his distinctive figurative paintings, particularly his recurring depictions of cats and couples. Born in Madras, he grew up in a family of artists and was introduced to painting at an early age by his maternal uncle, Namashivayam Pillai, who worked as a film-banner painter. He went on to study at the Government College of Art and Craft, Madras, later pursuing further training in printmaking in Israel and fresco painting at Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan.

Bhaskaran’s practice draws on familiar subjects to explore relationships, symbolism, and everyday experience. His celebrated cat paintings emerged after a stray feline entered his studio, inspiring an enduring series in which the animal becomes both a recurring motif and a vehicle for formal experimentation. His Couple series takes inspiration from marriage photographs found in Indian households, examining the social conventions and expectations embedded in representations of companionship. He has also created works inspired by the poetry of composer Ilaiyaraaja, extending his engagement with popular and regional cultural expression.

Bhaskaran has consistently resisted the idea that Indian artists must consciously assert a cultural identity through their work, maintaining that such identity emerges naturally from artistic practice. Alongside his career as an artist, he served as principal of the Government College of Art, Chennai, and the College of Art, Kumbakonam. In 2002, he became chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. He lives and works in Chennai.