Lalu Prasad Shaw was born in 1937 in Suri, West Bengal.

In 1959 he received his diploma in painting from Government College of Arts and Crafts in Kolkata.

Lalu had several solo exhibitions in India:
In 1965, 1967, 1990, 2008, 2011 - 2012 he exhibited in Kolkata. In 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1990 he exhibited in New Delhi. In 1976 he had a solo exhibition in Chennai. In 1980 he exhibited solo in Udipi, Bangalore.

Lalu participated in several group shows in India and overseas:
In 1959, Lalu received the West Bengal Lalit Kala Academy Award (Graphic Art). In 1956 he participated in World Youth Festival At Exhibition in Prague. In 1970 he participated in Society of Contemporary Artists, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi. In 1971 he participated in 2nd British Biennale in London and VII Paris Biennale, Paris. In 1971, he received the National Award (Graphic Art). In 1976 he won the Birla Academy Award (Graphic Art). In 1973 he participated in 10th Ljubijna Biennale, Yugoslavia and Contemporary Indian Prints Exhibition, Germany. In 1971 he participated in ‘Expo-70’, touring exhibition, Japan. In 1971 he took part in group shows, New Delhi, Texas and Poland. In 1973 he exhibited in group shows in Dhaka & Bangladesh. In 1973 he participated in Prime Internagionale Biella, Italy. In 1974 he participated in International Exhibition of Graphic Art, Prechem. In 1976 he participated in International Exhibition, Berlin. In 1974 he participated in 4th International Exhibition of Original Drawing, Rajeka, Yugoslavia and he participated in the 2nd Norwegian Prints Biennale, Norway. In 1977 he took part in an exhibition Graphic Art from Asian Countries, Germany. In 1981 he exhibited in All India Graphic and Drawing Exhibition, Chandigarh. In 1980 he participated in 3rd World Biennale of Graphic Art in Baghdad and London. In 1982 he participated in Exhibition of Indian Graphic in Havana, Cuba. In 1984 he took part in 2nd Asian Biennale, Bangladesh. In 1985 he participated in ‘Indian Graphic in Indian Fair’ in USA and he participated in Indian Printmaking Today’ in Bonn, Germany and in Helsinki, Finland. In 1986 he participated in 2nd Biennale in Havana. In 2000 he participated in a group show in Hong Kong. In 2002 he took part in a group show in London. In 2004 he participated in ‘Call of the Real’ in Colombo. In 2005 Lalu took part in group shows in New Delhi, Mumbai & Kolkata. In 2006 he participated in a group show in Dubai. In 2006 he participated in group shows at Birla Academy of Art and Culture in Kolkata and New Delhi. In 2007 - 2008, Lalu took part in ‘From Everyday to the Imagine: Modern Indian Art’ at Singapore Art Museum and Museum of Art, Seoul National University in Seoul. In 2007 Lalu took part in group shows, New Delhi, Kolkata and Baroda. In 2008 and 2009 he took part in group shows, Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai. In 2010, 2011 and 2013 - 2014 he participated in various group shows in Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata.

Lalu lives and works in Santiniketan.