The contemporary Indian artist Jayasri Burman was born in Calcutta in 1960. She pursued her painting studies at Kala Bhavan in Shantiniketan and the Government College of Art and Craft in Kolkata. Later, she travelled to Paris and learned printmaking under the guidance of Monsieur Ceizerzi. She is part of a family in which many eminent artists co-existed: Paresh Maity, her husband; Shakti Burman, her uncle, who lives and works in France; and Maya Burman, her cousin. She organised an exhibition named The Family, where all these eminent artists’ works were featured in 2005.

Jayasri likes to work in watercolour. She uses rich, strong shades and bold themes with fictional characters. She is an expert in creating hybrid animals with human heads and female figures. Her works have been exhibited in the country and overseas. In recent times, she was invited as an Artist-in-Residence at the President’s House, and she won the prestigious Icon and Devi Awards.

She was honoured by the Department of Posts and Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India, in 2007. She actively participated in a week-long celebration called Ananya Festival, which was organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development for International Women’s Day from 5–9 March 2007. She designed stamps on the basis of the above-mentioned theme, and they were released by the then Hon’ble Vice President of India. She is also a recipient of the ‘College of Visual Arts in Tempera for Outstanding Merit Award of the Annual Exhibition’ in 1979, the National Award in 1985, and the ‘Certificate of Merit Award’ by the All India Youth Art Exhibition in 1987. She also won the National Academy Award for her painting Fisherman in 1984.

Burman participated in several solo exhibitions, such as Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 1992; Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi, in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2004; Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore, in 2002; Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 2004; Fairytales and Laments: The Mythology of Jayasri Burman, Arts India, Palo Alto, California, in 2005; Sacred Feminine, Art Musings, Mumbai, in 2006; The Mythical Universe, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi, in 2010; Fables and Folklore, presented by Art Musings at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 2010; Gazing into Myth, by Gallery Sumukha, Hong Kong, in 2014; and many more.

Her work was also exhibited at Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society in Kolkata, Bharat Bhavan Biennale in Bhopal, International Triennale in Germany, Art Musings in Mumbai, Royal Cultural Centre in Jordan, Chawla Art Gallery in New Delhi, Centre of International Modern Art in Kolkata, etc.