Known as a symbolic abstractionist, Prabhakar Barwe's paintings seemingly came from the unconscious. The junction of form and space in his work creates new associations and meaning while giving the observer a chance to perceive the image subjectively. Influenced by the esoteric tradition of Tantric painting, Barwe is considered as part of the Neo-Tantra movement.

Prabhakar Barwe was born on 1936 in Maharashtra to a family closely related to art. In order to carry out the family tradition, he studied at Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai and received his diploma in 1959. He became a well exhibited painter in India and outside, accolades followed including the National Award from Lalit Kala Akademi in 1976 and the Yomiuri Shimbun Award from Japan in 1969. He was as accomplished in written words as well, his book 'Kora Canvas' completed a few years before his death, contained much of his jottings on the creative process and his musings about life.