Arpita Singh, modernist who explored women's lives and social turmoil, dies at 89
Original report:
Indian modernist Arpita Singh died in New Delhi on November 9, 2026, aged 89, according to The Hindu. Known for figurative paintings often centred on women, the Padma Bhushan recipient drew tributes for work that confronted violence while celebrating life.
Arpita Singh died at Fortis Hospital in New Delhi on November 9, 2026, from age-related ailments, her husband, artist Paramjit Singh, told PTI. She was 89. He said she had experienced heart and lung problems for several years but continued working, and was admitted to hospital after her health deteriorated over three days.
Singh's extensive figurative practice often placed women at the centre of compositions reflecting social upheaval and humanitarian crises. She received the Padma Bhushan in 2011 and the Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship in 2014. She is survived by her husband; their daughter, artist Anjum Singh, died of cancer in 2020.
Tributes highlighted how Singh's work connected artistic form with difficult social subjects. Curator Uma Nair described her treatment of violence, disorder and patriarchal conventions, alongside imagery influenced by her work at the Weavers Centre. Poet and Raza Foundation managing trustee Ashok Vajpeyi emphasised both her confrontation with contemporary violence and her celebration of life.
Source
The Hindu — 9 November 2026
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