“I capture the mundane and everyday life in my artworks.”

Prabha Dongre was born in Pune. She was inspired to pursue art at a young age after visiting the Ajanta Caves when she was 10 years old. When she entered Kala Bhavan in 1948, which eventually transitioned to the Faculty of Fine Arts, she was one of the only women artists and the senior-most artist of the Baroda School. She received her training from Professor N. S. Bendre. Additionally, she earned a diploma in miniature painting, a course of study that sharpened her eye for composition and detail.

Her artwork conveys a sense of serenity and happiness. Her subjects were drawn from rural and tribal backgrounds, men and women engaged in chores and activity, celebrating life and the joy of living. Her paintings have strong and confident brush strokes, clear and precise. She works in what she herself termed as, ‘semi-modern’ style exploring indegenious themes.

She was a full time painter and exhibited her works in one-woman shows especially at Taj Art Gallery, Bombay every alternative year in the 60s and 70s.