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F N Souza
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"But for art, man would die of boredom!"
Francis Newton Souza was born in 1924 in Saligao, Goa. After losing his father at a very young age and being afflicted by a serious bout of small pox, he vowed to go about life his own way. Souza was expelled for participating in the Quit India Movement while studying at the Sir J J School of Art in Mumbai. In 1947, he founded the Progressive Artists' Group along with S H Raza, M F...
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"But for art, man would die of boredom!"
Francis Newton Souza was born in 1924 in Saligao, Goa. After losing his father at a very young age and being afflicted by a serious bout of small pox, he vowed to go about life his own way. Souza was expelled for participating in the Quit India Movement while studying at the Sir J J School of Art in Mumbai. In 1947, he founded the Progressive Artists' Group along with S H Raza, M F Husain and K H Ara, among others. An articulate genius, Souza augmented his disturbing and powerful canvases with his sharp and provocative prose.
Francis Newton Souza's unrestrained and graphic style created thought-provoking and powerful images. His repertoire of subjects covered still life, landscape, nudes and icons of Christianity, rendered boldly in a frenzied distortion of form. Souza's paintings expressed defiance and impatience with convention and with the banality of everyday life. Souza's works have reflected the influence of various schools of art: the folk art of his native Goa, the full-blooded paintings of the Renaissance, the religious fervour of the Catholic Church, the landscapes of 18th and 19th century Europe, and the path-breaking paintings of the moderns. A recurrent theme in his works was the conflict in a man-woman relationship, with an emphasis on sexual tension and friction. In his drawings, he used line with economy, while still managing to capture fine detail in his forms. He also used a profusion of crosshatched strokes that made up the overall structure of his subject.
In 1949, Souza left for London where after a few years of struggle he made a mark on the art scene. In the 1950s, he shot to fame with his one-man show at Gallery One in London, at the same time his autobiographical essay, Nirvana of a Maggot, was published. In 1967, he migrated to New York where he received the Guggenheim International Award. He remained there till his death. Souza’s works were part of several successful exhibitions around the world. His works are in the collections of the Tate Gallery, London and the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. He has also exhibited at the Gallery Creuze, Paris, in 1954; at Arts 38, London, in 1975 and 1976, at Bose Pacia Modern, New York, in 1998; and Francis Newton Souza Rare Works: 1965-2001,, at Galerie 88 in Kolkata.
F N Souza passed away in March 2002.
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Born
April 12, 1924
Saligaon Goa
Died
2002
Education
1960 Study Tour of Italy on an Italian Government Scholarship1940-45 Diploma in Painting, Sir J.J.School of Arts, Mumbai
Exhibitions
Selected Posthumous Exhibitions
2017 'Man Grinding His Teeth',...
Selected Posthumous Exhibitions
2017 'Man Grinding His Teeth', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi2017 'The Progressive Master: Francis Newton Souza from the Rajadhyaksha Collection', Pizzuti Collection, Columbus, Ohio2016 'Indian Modernist Landscapes, 1950-1970, Bakre / Ribeiro / Souza', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2015 'Francis Newton Souza : Works on Paper', Kanoria Centre For Arts, Ahmedabad; Gallery 7, Mumbai2015 'Abby Grey and Indian Modernism: Selections from the NYU Art Collection', Grey Art Gallery, New York University, New York2014 'Rituals and Reasons: Invoking the Sensual in Art', Apparao Galleries, Chennai 2013 'Ram Kumar and the Bombay Progressives: The Form and the Figure Part II', Aicon Gallery, New York 2013 'Ideas of the Sublime', presented by Vadehra Art Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 2013 'Panoplism', Nature Morte, New Delhi2013 'Edge of Reason- and beyond, into pure creativity', presented by Indian Art Circle at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 2013 'The Naked and the Nude: The Body in Indian Modern Art', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2012 'Diva', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai2012 'Talking Heads', Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi2012 'Iconic Processions', Aicon Gallery, New York 2012 'Extending the Line', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi2012 'Gallery Collection', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 2012 'Migrations', Tate Britain, London2012 'F.N.Souza: Landsacpes, Heads and Nudes', Grosvenor Gallery, London2012 'Contemporary: A Selection of Modern and Contemporary Art', prsented by Sakshi Gallery at The Park, Chennai2012 'Through the Ages: South Asian Sculpture and Painting from Antiquity to Modernism', Aicon Gallery, New York2012 'Crossings: Time Unfolded, Part 2', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi 2011-12 'The Body Unbound', Rubin Museum of Art, New York 2011-12 'Picasso Souza', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi2011 'Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980), Indigo Blue Art, Singapore2011 'The Path of the Lotus: Indian Art', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2011 'Modern Masters', Aicon Gallery, New York2011 'Ida Kar: Portraits of F N Souza', British Council, New Delhi; Grosvenor Vadehra, London; Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai; Sunaparanta Goa Centre, Panjim2011 ‘Manifestations VI', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi2011 'Seduction by Masquerade', Nature Morte, New Delhi 2011 'States of Departure: Progressives to Present Day', Aicon Gallery, London2011 'POP: Progressives on Paper', Aicon Gallery, New York 2011 'Anecdotes', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai2011 'Natural Bodies, Subverted Canons', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi2011 'Goddess, Lion, Peasant, Priest: Modern and Contemporary Indian Art', from the Collection of Shelley and Donald Rubin at Museum Oglethorpe, Atlanta 2011 'High-Light', presented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai at The Oberoi, Gurgaon
2011 ‘Manifestations V', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi 2011 'Masterclass', Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi2011 'Time Unfolded', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi2011 'Roots in the Air, Branches Below: Modern & Contemporary Art from India', San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose 2011 'Continuum', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi 2011 'Celebrations 2011', Kumar Gallery, New Delhi2010-11 'Figure/Landscape: Part Two', Aicon Gallery, London 2010 Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai2010 'Figure/Landscape: Part One', Aicon Gallery, New York2010 'The Modernists', RL Fine Arts, New York2010 'Paper Trails', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi2010 'A Missing History: 'The Other Story' Re-visited', Aicon Gallery, London2010 'The Progressives & Associates', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2010 'A. SYCO', The Viewing Room, Mumbai2010 'From Miniature to Modern: Traditions in Transition', Rob Dean Art, London in association with Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai2010 'Volte-Face: Souza's Iconoclastic Vision', presented by Dhoomimal Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi2010 'Cross Purposes', Mascalls Gallery, West Kent; Ben Uri Museum, London2010 'Vahana', Bombay Art Gallery, Mumbai 2010 'Manifestations IV', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi2010 'Roots', 25th Anniversary Exhibition of Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai at The Park, Chennai2010 'Celebration 2010', Annual Exhibition, Kumar Art Gallery, New Delhi 2009 'Master Class', The Arts Trust, Mumbai2009 'Bazgasht: Traditional Methods and Modern
Practices, The Revival of Miniature Paintings
from the Sub-Continent', Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario2009 'Anglo-Indian Express', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2009 'Bharat Ratna! Jewels of Modern Indian Art', Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 2009 'Indian Art After Independence: Selected Works from the Collections of Virginia & Ravi Akhoury and Shelley & Donald Rubin', Emily Lowe Gallery, Hempstead2009 'F.N.Souza: Heads, Landscapes and Nudes', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2009 'In Search of the Vernacular', Aicon Gallery, New York 2009 'Progressive to Altermodern: 62 Years of Indian Modern Art', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2009 'Kalpana: Figurative Art in India', presented by The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) at Aicon Gallery, London; The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) 2009 'Tracing Time', Bodhi Art, Mumbai 2009 'Armory Show', New York presented by Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 2008-09 ''Modern India', organized by Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (IVAM) and Casa Asia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture at Valencia, Spain 2008-09 ‘Expanding Horizons: Contemporary Indian Art’, Traveling Exhibition presented by Bodhi Art at Ravinder Natya Mandir, P.L.Despande Kala Academy Art Gallery, Mumbai; Sant Dyaneshwar Natya Sankul Art Gallery, Amravati; Platinum Jubilee Hall, Nagpur; Tapadia Natya Mandir Sports Hall, Aurangabad; Hirachand Nemchand Vachanalay’s, Solapur; Acharya Vidyanand Sanskrutik Bhavan, Kolhapur; PGSR Sabhagriha, SNDT, Pune; Sarvajanik Vachanalaya Hall, Nasik 2008 'Frame Figure Field: 20th Century Modern and Contemporary Indian Art', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi 2008 '3 Masters Briefly', Akar Prakar, Kolkata 2008 'F.N.Souza', presented by Saffronart and Grosvenor Gallery, London at Saffronart, New York 2008 'Modern and Contemporary Indian Art', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 2008 'Multiple Modernities: India, 1905-2005', Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA 2008 ‘Freedom 2008: Sixty Years After Indian Independence’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata 2008 'Tales, Reflection and Constructs', ITC Windsor, Bangalore 2007-08 ‘India Art Now: Between Continuity and Transformation’, Province of Milan, Milan 2007 'Bacon, Freud, Souza and Mehta', Grosvenor Vadehra, New Delhi 2007 'Painting Without Paint: The Chemical Paintings of FN Souza', R L Fine Arts, New York 2005/6 'F. N. Souza: Religion and Erotica', Tate Britain, London 2005 Ashta Nayak: Eight Pioneers of Indian Art', Aicon Gallery, New York
2005/6 'Self-Portrait: Renaissance to Contemporary', National Portrait Gallery, London 2005 'Francis Newton Souza', Saffronart and Grosvenor Gallery, London and New York 2005 'Modern Indian Paintings', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2005 'A Tribute to F. N. Souza', Kumar Gallery, New Delhi 2005 'Manifestations III', Nehru Centre, Mumbai; Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, and Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi 2004 'Manifestations II', Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai and Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi 2004 'Ethos: Contemporary Indian Art', Indigo Blue Art, Singapore 2004 'Souza in London', curated by Yashodhara Dalmia from the Bhayana family collection, British Council, New Delhi 2003 'Modern Indian Painting', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2003 'Francis Newton Souza: Works on Paper', Saffronart, Mumbai2003 'F.N Souza: A Definitive Retrospective', Gallery Artsindia, New York 2003 'Manifestations', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi 2002 'Souza and Friends', Grosvenor Gallery, London
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2001 'Francis Newton Souza Rare Works: 1965-2001', Galerie 88, Kolkata1999 Copeland Fine Art Gallery, Columbus, Ohio,USA 1998 Bose Pacia Modern, New York 1997 Julian Hartnolls Gallery, London 1996 Art Heritage, NEw Delhi 1996 'Souza from the Alkazi Collection',Academy of Fine Arts and Literature New Delhi. 1993 'Souza, 1940s-1990s Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi 1986 Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi 1983 'Souza in the Forties' Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi 1985 Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai 1976 Dhoomimal Art Gallery,New Delhi 1975,76 Arts 38 London 1968 London Arts Gallery Detroit,USA 1966 Dhoomimal Art Gallery,New Delhi 1966 Grosvenor Gallery, London 1963 Taj Gallery Mumbai 1962 Kumar Gallery New Delhi 1961 Gallery One, London 1961,62 North Audley Street London 1960 Gallery One, London 1959 Gallery One, London 1957 Gallery One, London 1955 Gallery One, London 1954 Institute of Contemporary Arts, London 1954 Gallery Creuze,London 1951 Indian Embassy London
Selected Group Exhibitions
2001 'Souza and Baiju', Saffronart and Apparao Galleries, Mumbai 1996 National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai 1996,93 LTG Gallery, New Delhi 1987 Coups de Coeur, Halles de L’Ile, Geneva 1986 Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi 1982 'Modern Indian Paintings',Hirschorn Museum & Sculpture Garden Washington D.C 1982 India: Myth and Reality, Museum of Modern Art, Oxford 1982 Contemporary Indian Art, Royal Academy, London 1977 'Commonwealth Artists of Fame' London 1967 Guggenheim Foundation USA 1965 Art Now in India, London 1964 Grosvenor Gallery, 1964 1962 Commonwealth Institute, London1957 John Moore's Exhibition, Walker Art Gallery Liverpool 1956,57,59,60 Gallery One, London 1954 Venice Biennale Italy 1954 Institute of Contemporary Arts, London 1949 Bombay Art Society Salon, Mumbai 1948 Burlington House Gallery London 1947 Progressive Artists Group, Mumbai
Honours and Awards
1998 Kalidas Sanman, Government of Madhya Pradesh, India1967 Guggenheim International Award, New York1960 Italian Government Scholarship (through the British Council)1957 John Moores Prize, Liverpool
1998 Kalidas Sanman, Government of Madhya Pradesh, India1967 Guggenheim International Award, New York1960 Italian Government Scholarship (through the British Council)1957 John Moores Prize, Liverpool
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F.N. Souza spent a month in Laguna Beach, CA in September this year, as part of Saffronart's artist work-live program. During this time, he painted, mesmerized visitors and art students who came to meet him with his philosophies on life, religion and love, and spoke candidly (as he always does) with members of the press who sought an interview with him. At 78, Francis Newton Souza is a busy man... and a much sought after...
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F.N. Souza spent a month in Laguna Beach, CA in September this year, as part of Saffronart's artist work-live program. During this time, he painted, mesmerized visitors and art students who came to meet him with his philosophies on life, religion and love, and spoke candidly (as he always does) with members of the press who sought an interview with him. At 78, Francis Newton Souza is a busy man... and a much sought after personality. Here are some the thoughts he shared with fellow artist Baiju Parthan who was also a part of the program:
BP: What are your observations on the current art scene in India?
FNS: The current art scene in India is very active indeed, and it's spilling out worldwide through the internet and dotcoms like Saffronart and several websites dealing exclusively with modern Indian art.
BP: How do you see yourself today in relation to your work? What are the significant changes that you sense in your work?
FNS: My work changes in sync with the evolutionary process of time, matter, space, energy, gravity and all of which clinch together in order to make life; the universe is a living, evolving entity and I am a part of it, naturally evolving. Therefore, my art is a living activity which has grown and developed along with me from the time I began painting ... even earlier, when I wrote in my autobiography, Words and Lines, 1959, "I painted murals on the walls of my mother's womb."
BP: What are your observations on your stay in Laguna Beach and the 7 Degrees Studio (venue of the artist work-live program)? Did you find the residency and the show a better way of bringing Indian contemporary art outside India?
FNS: My residency here at 7 Degrees, Laguna Beach, CA, has been enjoyable and productive. I owe the pleasure and the works I did (reproduced here) to Dinesh and Minal Vazirani. I made friends: Punya Nagpal, Sandhya Gorthi, Baiju Parthan, Mark Tauriello...
All means and methods of promoting contemporary Indian art to put it on the international market, otherwise monopolized by silly, vapid, inane stuff hyped up by Western artists and art dealers. The word "post modern" is a misnomer. Modern Art is not over as yet. Modernism has extrapolated into globalization, a new epoch in the new millennium in which India is playing a very significant and prominent part indeed!
Laguna Beach, CA September 18, 2001
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PAST AUCTIONS
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Lot 62
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Winter Online Auction
10-11 December 2025
a) Untitled
Signed and dated 'Souza...
Winning bid
$16,180
Rs 14,40,000
(Inclusive of buyer's premium)
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Lot 63
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Winter Online Auction
10-11 December 2025
Untitled
Charcoal and pencil on paper
7.25 x 10.5 in
Winning bid
$7,200
Rs 6,40,800
(Inclusive of buyer's premium)
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Lot 64
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Winter Online Auction
10-11 December 2025
Untitled
Acrylic on paper
14.5 x 21.5 in
Winning bid
$12,135
Rs 10,80,000
(Inclusive of buyer's premium)
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Lot 102
Details
Winter Online Auction
10-11 December 2025
a) Untitled
Signed and dated 'Souza...
Winning bid
$21,573
Rs 19,20,000
(Inclusive of buyer's premium)
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