Arpana Caur was born in 1954 in New Delhi.

In 1975 she received his degree in M.A. in Literature from Delhi University. In 1979 she received the Greater London Council Grant for Advanced Study in Painting from St. Martin School of Art, London. In 1984 - 1985 she received the Research Grant in Painting from Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.

Arpana has had several shows:
In 1975 she exhibited solo Shridharani Gallery, New Delhi. In 1979 she exhibited at Gallery Arts 38, London and at Rabindra Bhavan Gallery, Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi. In 1982 and 1987 she showcased solo shows at October Gallery – London. In 1980, 1982 and 1984 she had solo shows at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai. From 1982 – 2002 she exhibited solo in several shows in Mumbai, New Delhi, New York, Kolkata, Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Bangalore, Scotland, Sweden and UK. In 1984 she exhibited solo at National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. In 1987 she exhibited solo at Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata. In 1993 she had a solo exhibition at Rabindra Bhavan Gallery, Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi and in 1996 she exhibited solo at Sakshi Gallery in Mumbai and Bangalore. In 1999 she showcased ‘Rites of Time’ at Bose Pacia Modern, New York. In 2001 and 2003 she exhibited solo at Academy of Fine Arts and Literature, New Delhi. In 2004 she exhibited solo at Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata In 2016 she had a solo exhibition, 'Four Decades: A Painter's Retrospective of Works by Arpana Caur' at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Bangalore.

Arpana exhibited in several group shows:
In 1986 she took part in the Baghdad Biennale, Baghdad. In 1987 Algiers Biennale, Algeria and in the Cuba Biennale, Cuba. In 1994 she took part in the Osaka Print Triennale, Osaka. In 1994 she participated in the Asian Art Show at Hiroshima Museum, Hiroshima. In 1994 & 1995 she participated in various group shows in UK, Japan, Brazil, Sao Paulo & Rio de Janeiro. From 1997 – 2007 she took part in group exhibitions in New Delhi, Hong Kong, Kolkata, Singapore, Bradford, Austria, Australia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, Berlin and Hyderabad. In 1997 & 1998 she participated in groups shows at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi & Mumbai. From 2008 – 2012 she exhibited in various group exhibitions in Mumbai, New Delhi and Hyderabad. In 2016 she took part in a group show 'The Melting Pot' at Gallery 7, Kalaghoda, Mumbai.

She has received several awards:
In 1984 she won the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) Award, New Delhi. In 1985 she received the Research Grant for Painting from Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. In 1986 she received a Gold Medal at the 6th Triennale at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. In 1989, 1990, 1991 & 1992 she won the Eminent Artist awards at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.

Arpana lives and works in New Delhi.