Renowned painter and former Rajya Sabha MP Jogen Chowdhury passed away on Sunday, 25 October 2026, at a hospital in Kolkata. He was 87. The artist, widely credited with redefining Indian modern art through his distinctive figurative style, had been battling blood cancer for the past 14 months and was also being treated for a urinary tract infection.

Last Days and Medical Condition

According to hospital sources, Chowdhury had been undergoing chemotherapy when he fell ill on 16 October, the day of Shasthi, and was admitted to hospital. His condition grew critical in the following days, with symptoms of sepsis developing due to the infection. When his condition deteriorated on Saturday, he was placed on ventilation. He breathed his last on Sunday morning, according to family sources.

Bengal Chief Minister's Condolences

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed deep grief at the passing, describing Chowdhury as 'a towering pillar of our cultural world.' In a statement, Adhikari said: 'Deeply pained and grieved by the passing away of eminent painter and legendary artist, Shri Jogen Chowdhury. A maestro whose distinctive strokes redefined Indian modern art, Shri Jogen Chowdhury was a towering pillar of our cultural world. His immense contributions brought international acclaim to West Bengal. His departure leaves an irreparable void in West Bengal's intellectual and artistic soul.' The Chief Minister added that he extended 'profound grief and heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family, friends, associates and legions of fans across the globe' on behalf of the Government and People of West Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee Calls Him 'Pride of Bengal and India'

Former Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee mourned Chowdhury's passing in a post on X, calling him 'the pride of Bengal and India.' Banerjee wrote: 'Jogen Chowdhury was the pride of Bengal and India. A great inspiration to artists worldwide, and me personally. My condolences to his family, friends, and admirers all over the world. He was elected as an AITC Rajya Sabha MP from 2014-20 representing civil society, and was awarded the Banga Bibhushan in 2012. His passing away will create an irreparable void in the world of art and culture.'

A Legacy That Transcended Borders

Chowdhury was honoured with numerous awards at home and abroad over a decades-long career. In 2012, he received the Banga Bibhushan, West Bengal's highest civilian honour. The then Trinamool Congress government nominated him to the Rajya Sabha in 2014 as a representative of civil society from West Bengal; he served in that position until 2020. His work, characterised by bold, distorted figures rendered in ink and colour, earned him a place among the foremost voices of post-Independence Indian art. Notably, his death comes as West Bengal's cultural community is still recovering from the losses of several senior artists and intellectuals in recent years, deepening what critics describe as an irreplaceable generational void.