B. Prabha was born in 1933 in the village of Bela, near Nagpur, Maharashtra. Raised in a close-knit middle-class family, she studied at the Nagpur School of Art before earning a Diploma in Painting and Mural Painting from the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai. While she predominantly worked with oils on canvas, this modern artist explored various media, styles, and subjects before ultimately embracing oils as her primary medium. Following a phase of experimentation, Prabha developed an elegant, formal style that has become her hallmark. Her body of work spans a broad spectrum of subjects, from landscapes to pressing social issues like drought, hunger, and homelessness. A significant aspect of her oeuvre is her conscious effort to highlight the struggles of women in her country.

Prabha's signature style fully emerged after her marriage to fellow artist B. Vithal in 1956, leading her to transition from modern abstract forms to a more decorative figuration. She held her first joint exhibition with her husband in the same year. Notably, B. Prabha was a pioneering female artist during a time when women faced significant oppression, and she utilised her position to make powerful statements about these challenges. While her works may appear as straightforward representations of rural women today, it is essential to recognise that, decades ago, they served as poignant tributes to their spirit and struggles.