Krishnaji Howlaji Ara (1914-1985), known as K. H. Ara, was born in Secunderabad and was largely self-taught. He moved to Mumbai, where he worked various jobs before turning to painting and eventually becoming a founding member of the Progressive Artists’ Group in 1947.

Ara is best known for his still lifes and nudes, rendered in a direct and unembellished style. His works often feature everyday objects, flowers, vessels, and domestic settings, painted with a focus on colour, form, and immediacy rather than academic finish.

He is regarded as an important figure in Indian modern art, particularly for his independent trajectory and contribution to shaping a modern visual language outside formal academic training.