Francis Newton Souza (1924-2002) was born in Saligao and emerged as a central figure in modern Indian art as a founding member of the Progressive Artists’ Group in 1947. Trained at the Sir J. J. School of Art in Mumbai, he was expelled before completing his studies, a formative rupture that shaped his rebellious artistic stance.

Souza’s work is marked by a raw, expressionist energy, distorted figures, heavy black outlines, and an unflinching engagement with themes of religion, sexuality, and power. After moving to London in 1949, his work gained international visibility, and he later spent time in New York.

Widely regarded as one of the most provocative voices in Indian modernism, Souza’s practice challenged both aesthetic and social conventions, leaving a lasting impact on the trajectory of post-independence art.