(1931 - 1991)
Born in Simla in 1931, Avinash Chandra studied at the Delhi Polytechnic Art School and also taught at the same institute for a few years. He went to London in 1956 and within ten years, in 1962 the BBC had produced a documentary about him, the Victoria and Albert Museum had bought his work, and he had became the first Indian painter to have his work displayed at the Tate Gallery, London. Chandra was awarded first prize in the First National Exhibition of Indian Art at the Lalit Kala Akademi in 1955. The 1960s brought Avinash Chandra great public success and critical acclaim. In 1961, Chandra’s paintings were showcased at solo exhibitions at the Gulbenkian Museum of Oriental Art in Durham, and in New Castle, York and Middlesbrough as well as in a national touring exhibition in United States. In 1967 Chandra moved to New York following an award by the Fairfield Foundation Fellowship for Travel and Study. He held several exhibitions there. Towards the end of his lifetime, Avinash Chandra has held over 32 individual shows and participated in over 35 group exhibitions in many countries. He passed away in 1991.