Artist Bio

 

Hemant Rao (b. July 29, 1984, Madhya Pradesh, India) is a self-taught visual artist whose practice primarily involves dry pastel on canvas and paper. 

 

Rao has been an Artist-in-Residence at Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi (sine 2023) and was awarded the American Dream Fellowship at Art Omi, New York, USA in 2025. Over the years, he has received several prestigious recognitions, including the Junior Artist Fellowship in Visual Arts (Painting) from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India (2011–12) and the 60th National Academy Award from Lalit Kala Akademi (2019).

 

His artistic journey began at the Graphic Studio, Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal, where he worked at the community studio from 2005 to 2010. Since then, Rao has presented his work in both solo and group exhibitions across India and internationally. His solo exhibition was held at Gallery Art & Soul, Mumbai (2016). He has also participated in group exhibitions at contemporary galleries such as Art Houz, Chennai, as well as institutions like Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal.

 

Rao’s works have been showcased at major contemporary art platforms including the India Art Fair (2024, 2022, 2020) at NSIC, New Delhi, with the 2024 edition presented at the BMW Collectors’ Lounge at India Art Fair. Other significant exhibitions include Art Mumbai (2024), Art of India by the Times of India Group at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi (2023), and Madras Art Weekend in Chennai (2023, 2024). Internationally, his work has been exhibited at events such as the Busan International Art Fair and Seoul Art Festival (2011), Bangkok Triennale (2014), and Art Revolution Taipei (2019).

 

Hemant Rao is currently represented by Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi.

 

His works are part of several important public and institutional collections, including the Bihar Government Museum, Uttarayan Art Foundation (Vadodara), Triveni Museum (Ujjain), Silpakorn University (Bangkok), and Takshila Educational Society (TES), Bihar. His works are also held in private collections, including those of American real estate developer Francis J. Greenburger and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijay Singh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Show

 

 

 

 

 

Unfolding a New Era

 

You are warmly invited to experience DMG Contemporary: Unfolding a New Era, presented by Dhoomimal Gallery. 

 

26 March – 2 April 2026 | 11 AM – 7 PM

Shridharni Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available Works (2025)

 

“Horizon Is a State of Mind” inspired by Hemant Rao's time spent at the Art Omi Artists Residency, New York (2025), this series explores perception, memory, and space through shifting abstract horizons. Using dry pastel on paper and canvas, Rao combines layers of colours, tonal shifts with geometric forms, creating meditative spatial rhythm and carrying echoes of elements, interconnection, belonging, and the fluid relationship between self and environment.

 

 

 

Untitled I to VI, 2025

Dry pastel on canvas

36 × 36 inches

₹3,15,000

(Each)