(1922 - 2016)
Born in Mumbai, Maharashtra in 1922, A. A. Raiba studied at the Sir J. J. School of Art in Bombay from 1942 to 1946. Raiba started painting professionally in the early 1950s. A neo- miniaturist at heart, he experiments with new forms. Rising from difficult financial conditions to the position of India's foremost artist solely on the basis of merit and scholarship and yet living simply, A.A. Raiba is a figure to look up to in all regards. He is most famous for his Old Bombay- Vasai series of paintings that dwell deeper into his Konkani roots and his use of Jute canvas that give his paintings a distinct character. His work is characterised by bold shapes, strong outlines, and simple use of sophisticated color. His landscapes often use a deliberately naive perspective. He won several medals from the Bombay Art Society: Bronze and silver medals, 1957 to 1950; and the Gold medal in 1956. His paintings are in collections in the Cairo Museum, Egypt, in the Nagpur Museum, and in the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. His work has been shown in over 20 exhibitions. He painted several large murals for clients such as Air India and Ashoka Hotel. Raiba was awarded one among the ten best exhibits of the year by the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in 1962. Raiba passed away in Mumbai on 15 April 2016 at the age of 93