Hemant Rao
{{Short description|Indian artist}}
{{about|the Indian artist|the Indian film director|Hemanth Rao}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
File:Hemant Rao after receiving National Award in Mumbai (2019).jpg
Hemant Rao is a self-taught Indian abstract artist, whose paintings have been featured at international art fairs.
Rao was born in 1984 at Raghogarh, Madhya Pradesh and worked at Bhopal's Bharat Bhavan multi-arts complex during his formative years.{{Cite news|last=Raghuvanshi|first=Alka|url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-asian-age/20130826/282063389624458|title=Battling rain-induced inertia to see luminescent art|date=2013-08-26|work=The Asian Age|access-date=2020-04-03}}
He has received 60th National Academy Award from Lalit Kala Akademi, India's national academy of fine arts, in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://epaper.freepressjournal.in/2094452/Free-Press-Bhopal-Edition/02-Apr-2019#clip/38147120/760c30fe-a11b-4285-9e25-d2ccb0708704/766.1545012689842:579.9796215368865|title=Free Press Journal Free Press - Bhopal Edition epaper dated Tue, 2 Apr 19|website=epaper.freepressjournal.in|access-date=2020-04-26}} Rao is also a recipient of Junior Fellowship (2011–12) of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Despite coming from a humble, rural background, his modern abstract work with soft pastels is free from any regional inclinations, as noted by Rita Dutta of The Telegraph.{{Cite news|last=Datta|first=Rita|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/fluid-and-fleeting-substance/cid/621062|title=FLUID AND FLEETING SUBSTANCE|date=2009-06-20|work=The Telegraph}} Rao's paintings have been canvassed at numerous exhibits including Busan International Art Fair in 2011, Seoul Art Festival in 2011, Art Revolution Taipei in 2019, Bangkok Triennale International Print & Drawing Exhibition in 2014, India Art Fair in 2020,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/state-editions/city-artist-hemant-rao-all-set-to-woo-art-lovers-at-india-art-fair.html|title=City artist Hemant Rao all set to woo art lovers at India Art Fair|last=Pioneer|first=The|website=The Pioneer|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01}} among other solo or group shows.{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-hemants-artworks-find-place-in-intl-art-exhibition|title=Bhopal: Hemant's artworks find place in Intl Art Exhibition|website=Free Press Journal|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/through-the-mind-s-eye/cid/503598|title=THROUGH THE MIND'S EYE|website=www.telegraphindia.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/my-imagination-runs-wild-says-artist-hemant-rao-113090600259_1.html|title=My imagination runs wild, says artist Hemant Rao|date=2013-09-06|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2020-04-03}} The artist currently lives and works in Bhopal.{{fact|date=December 2022}}