Tyeb Mehta
Modernist painter known for his falling figures and diagonals
- Lived
- 83 yrs
- 1925 – 2009
- Works listed
- 5
- Painting
- Honours
- 2
- Most recent 2007
- Profile views
- 3
- 0 followers
Tyeb Mehta was a modernist painter associated with the Progressive Artists’ Group whose stark images of falling figures, trussed bulls and goddesses reflected the trauma of Partition. In 2002 his painting Celebration became the most expensive Indian painting sold at auction at the time. He died in 2009.
Biography
Partition
Tyeb Mehta grew up in Bombay in a Dawoodi Bohra family and worked as a film editor before studying at the Sir J. J. School of Art. As a young man he witnessed a man being killed by a mob during the riots of 1947 — an image that haunted his work.
London and the diagonal
He lived in London from 1959 to 1964 and was influenced by Francis Bacon. Back in India he developed a spare style of flat colour and strong outlines. His Diagonal series, in which a single line cuts across the canvas, expressed violence and division.
Myth and suffering
His recurring images include the falling figure, the trussed bull, the rickshaw-puller and, later, the goddess Kali and the buffalo demon Mahishasura, through which he explored power, violence and suffering. He also made the experimental short film Koodal (1970).
Recognition
In 2002 his triptych Celebration sold at Christie’s for about 317,500 dollars, then a record for an Indian painting, signalling the boom in modern Indian art. He received the Kalidas Samman in 1988 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007, and died in Mumbai on 2 July 2009.
Timeline
-
1925
Born in Kapadvanj, Gujarat
-
1947
Witnesses Partition violence in Bombay
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1959
Moves to London
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1970
Short film Koodal
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1988
Kalidas Samman
-
2002
Record sale of Celebration
-
2007
Padma Bhushan
-
2009
Dies in Mumbai
-
2009
Died, aged 83
Notable works
-
—
Falling Figure Painting
Recurring theme.
-
1970
Diagonal series Painting
-
1989
Kali Painting
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1995
Celebration Painting
-
1997
Mahishasura Painting
Awards and honours
-
Kalidas Samman
1988
-
Padma Bhushan
2007
Did you know?
-
1
He started out as a film editor.
-
2
His experimental film Koodal won a Filmfare critics’ award.
-
3
He witnessed a killing during the 1947 riots, which shaped his art.
Connections
Related people
-
S. H. Raza
Art & Design · Painter known for the bindu and a founder of the Progressive Artists’ Group
Fellow modernist
-
M. F. Husain
Art & Design · Painter and member of the Progressive Artists’ Group
Fellow modernist
-
V. S. Gaitonde
Art & Design · Abstract painter regarded as India’s greatest non-objective artist
Fellow modernist
Frequently asked
Who is Tyeb Mehta?
Tyeb Mehta was a modernist painter associated with the Progressive Artists’ Group whose stark images of falling figures, trussed bulls and goddesses reflected the trauma of Partition. In 2002 his painting Celebration became the most expensive Indian painting sold at auction at the time. He died in 2009.
When did Tyeb Mehta die?
Tyeb Mehta died on 2 July 2009 at the age of 83.
Where is Tyeb Mehta from?
Tyeb Mehta was born in Kapadvanj, Gujarat.
What is Tyeb Mehta known for?
Tyeb Mehta is best known for Falling Figure, the Diagonal series, Kali, Mahishasura, Celebration.
What awards has Tyeb Mehta received?
Notable honours include Kalidas Samman (1988), Padma Bhushan (2007).
References
- Tyeb Mehta — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Tyeb Mehta — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Tyeb Mehta — Invaluable artist page. Invaluable. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Tyeb Mehta — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Tyeb Mehta (Q3111894) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Tyeb Mehta”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Tyeb Mehta.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/tyeb-mehta
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