Eminent painter Jogen Chowdhury dies at age 87; Suvendu, Mamata pay tribute

Eminent painter Jogen Chowdhury passed away at a private hospital in Kolkata on Sunday morning (October 25, 2026) after a long battle with a rare blood cancer. He was 87.

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Mr Chowdhury, a former TMC MP, had been suffering from myeloproliferative neoplasm, a rare type of blood cancer, for the past 14 months and was undergoing chemotherapy, Ruby General Hospital said in a statement.

He was admitted to a hospital in south-east Kolkata on October 16 and breathed his last at 10:15 am.

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“It is with deep sadness that we announce the demise of Shri. Jogen Chowdhury, the renowned Indian painter,” the hospital said.

During the course of his illness, Mr Chowdhury also required hospitalization for urinary tract infections, he added.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari condoled his death and said Chowdhury’s works would remain “immortal for the ages”.

Describing him as an artist of great stature, Mr Adhikari said the work he left behind was a treasure for the state and the nation.

“Chowdhury’s rich contributions are evident in many government buildings, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The works he left behind will remain for centuries,” he said.

Former CM Mamata Banerjee said Mr Chowdhury was the pride of Bengal and India.

“A great inspiration to artists around the world and to me personally. My condolences to his family, friends and admirers around the world,” she said in a post on social media.

Ms. Banerjee recalled that he was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a Trinamool Congress ticket and served from 2014 to 2020, and that her government awarded him the Banga Bibhushan, one of the state’s highest civilian honors, in 2012.

“His death will leave an irreparable void in the world of art and culture,” she said.

Painter Samir Aich also mourned Mr Chowdhury’s death, describing it as a “personal loss”.

His departure marked the death of an art form in the country, including the Bengal School of Art, Aich said.

Bengali writer Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay also mourned the painter’s death, describing him as a long-time friend and collaborator.

“Jogen was a long time friend and companion and I have ‘adda’ memories with him. His death is a great loss,” he said.

Mr. Chowdhury also had a house in Santiniketan, where the red earth and distinct landscape served as inspiration for his artwork.

Born on February 16, 1939 in Daharpara village of Faridpur, then a part of undivided Bengal, Mr. Chowdhury developed an early interest in art under the influence of his mother, who was adept in ‘alpana’, a traditional form of floor art.

During Partition, his family moved to Calcutta, where he received a formal education in art.

Mr. Chowdhury began his career as an art teacher at Howrah Zilla School before joining the Handloom Board, Calcutta in 1962 as a designer.

In the late 1960s, he went to Paris for higher studies at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts. He developed his distinctive artistic style after returning to India.

Known for his unique visual language, Mr. Chowdhury drew inspiration from political and social themes as well as Indian and European art movements.

Published – 25 October 2026 16:35 IST