Prabhakar Barwe was born in 1936 in Nagaon, Maharashtra. He studied at the J.J.School of Art, Bombay. Between 1961-65 he lived in Benaras where he was inspired by the illusory aspect of Tantra. In 1969 he was awarded the Yomiuri Shimbun Award. In 1976 he won the Lala Kala National Award. In the 1980's he became interested in archeological imagery. Between 1983-85 he worked on "object-space" relationships. He has had several one man shows and has participated in major national and international exhibitions including Pictorial Space,Lalit Kala Academi, New Delhi ( 1977 ),Indian Painting Today,Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay ( 1981 ),Modern Indian Paintings, Hirschhorn Museum, Washington D.C. ( 1982 ) and Indian Drawing Today, Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay ( 1987 ). His work has been included in the Menton ( 1976 ) and Valpariso ( 1989 ) Biennales. In 1988 he was awared the Residency Fellowship Grant at 'Yaddo'. In 1990 his book in Marathi Kora Canvas was published.