Born in 1917, Jaya Appasamy, an accomplished artist, completed her graduation in Madras and earned a Diploma in Fine Arts from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, in the 1930s Immersing herself in the study of painting, she ventured to China to master the Chinese style Upon returning, she pursued a Masters in the History of Art in the United States

Returning to India, she became part of Delhi Polytechnic and embarked on a career as an art critic for 'The Hindu' Undeterred by the demands of her role, she maintained a dual commitment to writing and painting Post her tenure at the Delhi College of Art, she assumed the role of Editor at the Lalit Kala Akademi, serving with distinction until retirement

During her time at the Akademi, she was granted a fellowship by the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies This period gave birth to the first meticulously documented treatise on the paintings of Abanindranath Tagore and his contemporaries Subsequent works included a book on contemporary sculpture and another on Indian glass paintings Appasamy delved extensively into modern and contemporary art practices in India, paralleled by her passion for collecting art

Her dream of establishing a collector's museum materialised in the Rasaja Foundation, conceived in the last years of her life A portion of the foundation's collection now resides at the NGMA Delhi

Appasamy's oil paintings are characterised by their solid forms and vibrant colours expressed through a modernist lens One such painting depicts a girl holding a garland of flowers

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Jaya Appasamy distinguished herself as an art critic and collector Her significant research on Indian art from the colonial era, particularly the Company School and Indian glass painting, remains influential today Through her life, she actively participated in the evolution of modern Indian art, documenting and analysing its progress