Born in 1956 in Paris, France, Chittrovanu Mazumdar grew up in Calcutta in an environment deeply immersed in art. He is the son of the noted avant-garde painter Nirode Mazumdar, whose intellectual and artistic legacy significantly shaped his early sensibilities. Mazumdar studied painting at the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Kolkata, graduating in 1981. Since his first solo exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, in 1985, he has established himself as one of the leading voices in contemporary Indian art.

The dynamic interplay between darkness and light lies at the core of Mazumdar’s artistic language. Drawing from diverse aesthetic and socio-cultural influences, he constructs layered compositions characterised by bold brushstrokes that merge figuration with abstraction. His paintings often incorporate evocative fragments of the human body, such as searching eyes or outstretched hands, embedded within complex surfaces. Dominated by deep blacks and sharply contrasted by intense hues such as lacquer reds and electric blues, his works evoke a sense of mystery, tension and introspection, encouraging viewers to arrive at their own interpretations.

Since the late 1990s, Mazumdar has increasingly focused on multimedia installation art, expanding his practice beyond the canvas. Using digital projections, sound, light and a wide array of materials, including iron, rubber, wood, textiles and mechanical devices, he creates immersive environments that require viewers to physically move through and experience the work. These installations often occupy entire rooms, transforming exhibition spaces into sensory and contemplative landscapes.
Alongside painting and installation, Mazumdar has experimented with sculpture and mixed media, developing a rich visual vocabulary that frequently incorporates collage-like figurative elements. His works oscillate between narrative suggestion and abstraction, inviting questions about whether the forms represent defined stories or fragments of the artist’s inner reflections.

Mazumdar has exhibited extensively in India and internationally, with solo and group exhibitions in cities such as New York, London, Paris, Dubai, Rome and Salzburg. His works are part of important collections including the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, the Seagull Foundation, and numerous private collections worldwide. Over the years, he has also collaborated with the Seagull Foundation and theatre practitioners in designing books and performance spaces. Chittrovanu Mazumdar currently lives and works in Kolkata, India.