Jai Prakash Chouhan

Born in 1979 in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, and currently based there, this contemporary abstract artist has spent over two decades developing a distinctive visual language rooted in memory, cultural heritage, and material exploration. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in 2004 from the Government Institute of Fine Arts, Indore, and has since established a significant presence in the Indian and international contemporary art scene.

His practice emerges from extensive travel across India’s historical and cultural landscapes. Drawing inspiration from ancient monuments, architecture, collective memory, and human emotion, he transforms lived experiences into layered abstract compositions. While many of his works remain untitled, they are interconnected through recurring themes of identity, history, spirituality, and the evolving relationship between the individual and society.

Experimentation lies at the core of his artistic process. Working across a wide range of media, including acrylic, oil, watercolour, metal, wood, iron scraps, leather, and mixed media, he continuously explores new forms, textures, and surfaces. Vibrant yet earthy palettes, rhythmic mark-making, and richly textured compositions characterize his visual vocabulary. Recent works incorporating leather, wool, and gold leaf reflect a deeper engagement with labour, memory, resilience, and the social histories embedded within materials themselves.

His work has been presented in more than thirteen solo exhibitions and over seventy group exhibitions across India and internationally. Notable international appearances include the Kazan Art Fair, Russia (2018), Berlin Studio-Bustle Auction, Germany (2017), and Sweden & India Art Fair, New Delhi. His exhibitions have been hosted by prestigious venues including Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, where his acclaimed solo exhibition Anavarat explored themes of endurance, transformation, and cultural memory.

Among numerous honours, he has received the Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the Madhya Pradesh State Award, and recognition from IGNCA, New Delhi. A prolific freelance artist, he actively participates in international art camps, workshops, and lectures, continuing to expand the possibilities of abstraction through an inquiry into materiality, history, and human experience.