It is hardly surprising that it took Shamshad Hussain over 40 years to emerge from the shadows of his father - the celebrity artist M.F. Hussain. Shamshad was born in Mumbai in 1946. He attended Baroda College of Fine Arts, where he studied for a diploma in painting and did his Post Graduation from Royal College of Art, London (1979-80). Known for depicting nature in his works, he explores the deterioration of the environment and the harmful effects of onset of pollution in Indian cities. The way Shamshad Hussain's colour palette undergoes a transformation from greens to browns, blacks and grays and browns mirrors this constant deterioration of nature.
His works reflect the pictorial significance of the human figure both as an artistic expression and a statement of faith in man's social existence. He is the recipient of theNational Award (1983), Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi. In 1983-85 he was also awarded the Govt. of India Fellowship for Art. Husain has held exhibitions in different parts of the world including the Biennials of Tokyo, Dhaka, Ankara and Bhopal. He has had solo shows with galleries like Vadehra and Dhoomimal. He died in 2015.