Akbar Padamsee was born in 1928 in Mumbai and studied art at the Sir J.J. School of Art. In 1954, he held his first solo exhibition in India at Jehangir Art Gallery. He was influenced by the works of Modigliani, Picasso and Braque along with Kalidasa’s Abhijnanasakuntalam. He was the recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation scholarship in 1965. He also received the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship in 1969. A master in his art, he inspired many artists.  In 2010, the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan to the acclaimed artist.

The artist passed away in 2020.