Krishen Khanna

Original Krishen Khanna Paintings for Collectors and Designers

Krishen Khanna paints the India most artists overlook – migrant workers, roadside dhabas and wedding bandsmen – with warmth, humour and deep humanity.

Beyond Square offers authentic works direct to collectors, with full provenance. Explore the wider Indian art collection, or stay here to study the master in depth.

The Krishen Khanna Artist Story

Born in 1925 in Lyallpur, now in Pakistan, Khanna schooled in England, then lived through the trauma of Partition – an experience that shaped his socially conscious art.

Remarkably, he was largely self-taught, painting in his spare hours while working at Grindlays Bank until he resigned in 1961 to give his life fully to art.

The Krishen Khanna artist story is tied to history: inducted into the Progressive Artists’ Group by M. F. Husain, he stands today as its last surviving member.

The Style Behind Krishen Khanna Art

Krishen Khanna art is warmly figurative. While many peers turned to pure abstraction, he stayed with the human figure and the everyday drama of Indian streets.

His touch blends expressionist colour with narrative feeling, drawing on biblical themes and Eastern traditions to give ordinary people quiet dignity.

Every Krishen Khanna artwork tells a story – the tired rest of a labourer, the blaze of a wedding band, the hush of a shared meal.

Storytelling on Canvas

Khanna composes like a natural storyteller. Figures lean, gather and rest in ways that suggest a whole life beyond the frame.

His bandwallas feel caught mid-tune, his labourers mid-breath – small, human moments raised to lasting art.

He draws on biblical scenes and Indian streets alike, finding the same tenderness in a wedding band and a shared roadside meal.

That narrative warmth is exactly why his work rewards daily living with it.

Iconic Series and Recognition

He is loved for his Bandwallas and Truckwallahs, his Christ and Apostles works, and the historic canvas News of Gandhiji’s Death.

Khanna was the first Indian artist to win the Rockefeller Fellowship, in 1962, and received the Padma Shri in 1990 and the Padma Bhushan in 2011. Owning a Krishen Khanna artwork means holding part of that legacy.

In 2025, his centenary year, the National Gallery of Modern Art honoured him with a major retrospective, The Last Progressive.

Themes That Define His Work

Collecting and Placing Krishen Khanna in Your Space

Works by a founding modernist of this rank rarely appear on the open market, and strong pieces reward patient, informed collecting.

In interiors, his warm colour and lively figures suit a living room, a music room or a hospitality lounge that wants story and soul.

Our team helps architects and interior designers place important works to scale, lighting and sightlines, so each canvas earns its wall.

Caring for Your Krishen Khanna Artwork

Keep works away from direct sunlight and damp, and frame with UV-protective glazing. We share condition notes and care guidance with every purchase.

For older works, we advise on conservation-grade framing so the piece stays sound and beautiful for generations.

Why Buy Krishen Khanna Paintings from Beyond Square

Beyond Square is a direct-from-source gallery in Udaipur, trusted by collectors across India, the UK, the USA and the UAE. When you buy Krishen Khanna Paintings from us, provenance and authenticity always come first.

• Original, authenticated works – never prints or reproductions.
• Certificate of authenticity and secure, insured worldwide shipping.
• Guidance on framing, care and long-term value.

Explore related masters such as Manu Parekh and Satish Gujral, or view our oil on canvas works.

Why His Work Resonates Worldwide

Khanna gives dignity to the people history usually forgets. That compassion, handled with real skill, gives his work broad and lasting appeal.

His narrative clarity also makes his paintings deeply readable, drawing viewers across cultures into the story on the canvas.

Works held in major museums reinforce both the cultural weight and the long-term value of owning an original.

Khanna works across oil, watercolour and drawing, yet his figures stay unmistakable in every medium. Originals remain the most prized by serious collectors.

Because his place in history is so secure, provenance is essential. Every work we offer is documented and sourced with care, protecting your investment and peace of mind.

Whether you are beginning a collection or adding a landmark work, a Khanna original brings warmth, story and soul to any interior – a piece you will keep discovering, and gladly live with, for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these original Krishen Khanna Paintings?

Yes. Every work is an original, authenticated piece and ships with a certificate of authenticity – never a print or reproduction.

Can I ship a Krishen Khanna artwork internationally?

Yes. We pack securely and ship insured worldwide, guiding overseas buyers through customs so the work arrives ready to display.

Do you help designers and collectors choose?

Absolutely. We advise on selection, provenance and placement for homes, offices and hospitality projects of every scale.

Do you provide certificates and provenance documents?

Yes. Each work ships with a certificate of authenticity and available provenance, so your collection is fully documented.