Jatin Das stands among India’s most dynamic and prolific contemporary artists, distinguished by his tireless engagement across multiple mediums and his lifelong dedication to the human condition. His work is defined by an intense, expressive energy, whether rendered in sweeping ink lines, bold oil strokes, or sculptural forms, channeling movement, emotion, and the rawness of life with arresting immediacy. Over six decades, Das has forged a path that bridges art, poetry, pedagogy, cultural activism, and institution building, making him a singular presence in the post-Independence art landscape of India.

Born in December 1941 in Mayurbhanj, Odisha, Das trained at the Sir JJ School of Art, Bombay, under the mentorship of the influential modernist S.B. Palsikar. His practice evolved in parallel with the rise of the Progressive movement, but maintained a fiercely individual character rooted in figuration, gesture, and the force of human drama. Das’s visual language remains deeply corporeal and emotionally resonant, often exploring themes of love, conflict, displacement, and resilience, conveyed with spontaneity and layered sensibility.

Working across oil, watercolor, ink, conté, and printmaking, Das has held over 70 solo exhibitions worldwide and participated in major biennales including Venice and Tokyo. His versatility extends to murals, sculpture, and design, his monumental frieze The Journey of India: Mohenjo-Daro to Mahatma Gandhi (7 × 68 ft), permanently installed at the Indian Parliament, is among his most celebrated public works. His collaborations with national institutions and government initiatives also include the design of postage stamps and advocacy for arts education and heritage preservation.

Das’s engagement with both contemporary and traditional art forms has shaped his decades-long role as a cultural interlocutor. A visiting professor at leading universities in India and abroad, he has lectured at institutions such as the National Institute of Design, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Harvard University. His role as Founder-Chairman of the JD Centre of Art in Odisha reflects a larger vision: to create a space where India’s classical, folk, tribal, and contemporary arts converge. His personal donation of over 6,000 pankhas (hand-fans), part of a vast collection of objects gathered over four decades, underscores his commitment to safeguarding material culture.

In 2020, Das responded to the COVID-19 migrant crisis through Exodus, a powerful series of 200 ink drawings capturing the anguish and dignity of displaced laborers. Recent exhibitions such as Prakruti Purush (2022) and his large showcase at Bihar Museum (2025) have continued to expand the impact of his oeuvre, reaffirming his relevance across generations. Recipient of the Padma Bhushan and several honorary doctorates, Jatin Das’s contributions are as much about artistic production as they are about cultural stewardship. His work remains a living archive of movement, memory, and human spirit, deeply rooted in Indian modernism, yet urgent and timeless in its concerns.