Nikhil Biswas (1930–1966) was an important figure in post-Independence Indian art, known for his introspective paintings, drawings and murals exploring human existence, suffering and psychological turmoil. He completed his Diploma in Fine Arts from the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata, in 1954, and was a founding member of the Calcutta Painters Group and the Society of Contemporary Artists.

Working during a period of increasing abstraction in Indian art, Biswas developed a distinctive expressive style that combined abstraction with a strong focus on the human figure. His paintings reflected his own experiences of struggle, alienation and existential questioning, often addressing themes of dehumanisation, mortality and the darker aspects of human life. A devoted admirer of Michelangelo, he was also deeply influenced by Christian imagery, with Christ serving as an important symbol of humanity and suffering in his work.

Biswas extended these concerns into murals and large-scale compositions, using expressive forms and intense imagery to convey psychological and spiritual states. Despite his short career, he made a distinctive contribution to Indian modernism before his death in 1966.