Isha Mohammad was born in Konnagar, Hooghly, West Bengal in 1933. He was renowned Indian modern artist who holds a Diploma in Drawing and Painting (Life, Nature & Murals) from the Govt. College of Art & Craft, Kolkata. He also received training in Graphic Art, Dusseldorf Academy, West Germany, where he met the German Expressionist group and was influenced by their work. In addition, he was the former principal of ‘Govt. College of Art’ and later, president of ‘Asiatic Society’.
Mohammad is seen as a key figure in contemporary art education and an important part of the modern art movement in Bengal. His later works take a simpler approach to portraiture, often set in surreal environments, offering subtle yet powerful commentary on sexuality, socio-political issues. He worked with oils, acrylics, charcoals, and mixed media. He depicted both Bengali and Muslim culture, everyday life in his surroundings, landscapes, mythological subjects, and tribal scenes in oils and acrylics. His color palette was sober and subtle, with visible brush strokes that conveyed the softness of his paintings. He always focused on his compositions to capture people’s pain, emotions and facial expressions. Mohammad is also skilled in photography, and his photographs depicting tribal life were featured in the 'Desh Magazine’.
Mohammad has held numerous well-received exhibitions in India and abroad. He has been honored with the Graphic Art award by the Kolkata University and Birla Academy of Art & Culture in Kolkata.
Isha Mohammad passed away in Kolkata on 11 May, 2021.
