R. B. Bhaskaran (born 1942) is a distinguished contemporary painter, printmaker, and art educator known for his expressive line work, bold contours, and vibrant figurative abstraction. Born in Madras (now Chennai), his early exposure to drawing and color came from working at his uncle’s studio painting cinema banners. He completed his advanced diploma in painting at the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Madras (1960–1966), before expanding his repertoire internationally: studying fresco techniques at Banasthali Vidyapith in Rajasthan, intaglio printmaking and lithography at Ein Hod in Israel under a UNESCO scholarship, and printmaking at Portsmouth Polytechnic in England as a British Council scholar. Bhaskaran is best known for his iconic Cat Series—sketches inspired by a stray cat in his studio that evolved into a central motif synonymous with the artist himself—and his Couple Series, which reimagines middle-class Indian wedding portraits through flattened perspective, textured surfaces, and decorative patternwork.
As a key figure in the Madras Art Movement, Bhaskaran played a critical, counter-ideological role by openly challenging the concept of "Nativism" championed by K.C.S. Paniker. He rejected the idea that Indian artists needed to consciously insert traditional folk motifs or mythological symbols into their work to prove their heritage, arguing instead that any mark made by an Indian artist is inherently Indian. This bold stance liberated younger artists from ideological constraints, allowing them to pursue personal, modern sensibilities. Institutionally, Bhaskaran significantly influenced South Indian art education as Principal of the Government College of Fine Arts, Kumbakonam (1995), and later as Principal of the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai (1997–2001).
Bhaskaran's distinguished achievements include winning the National Award from the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, in 1982, receiving multiple Senior Fellowships from the Ministry of Culture, and serving as an international juror for the Florence Biennale in Italy. He achieved major administrative prominence as the Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, in 2002, and served on the Apex Committee of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA). His works have been exhibited globally in major retrospectives and are held in prominent permanent collections worldwide, including the NGMA and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
