Piraji Sagara (1931-2014) was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and was associated with the Faculty of Fine Arts at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, where he later taught. Emerging within the post-independence modernist context, he developed a distinctive practice that moved beyond conventional painting.

Working with materials such as wood, metal, nails, and pigment, Sagara created relief-like surfaces that blur the boundaries between painting and sculpture. His works often incorporate symbolic and architectural elements, emphasising texture, structure, and the passage of time.

He is regarded as an important figure in Indian modern art, particularly for expanding the material and conceptual possibilities of the painted surface.