Hemant Rao, born on July 29, 1984, in Madhya Pradesh, India, is a self-taught artist known for his abstract art using dry pastel on canvas. He is currently an Artist-in-Residence at Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi.

Hemant has received numerous awards, including the Visual Arts (Painting) Junior Artist Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India (2011-12) and the 60th National Academy Award from Lalit Kala Akademi (2019). He began his artistic journey at the Graphic Studio in Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal (2005-2010). He has held solo exhibitions at prominent venues such as Gallery Art & Soul in Mumbai (2016) and Art Spice Gallery, New Delhi (2013).

He has also exhibited in major contemporary art festivals, including the India Art Fair (2024, 2022, 2020) at NSIC, Delhi, Art of India by Times of India Group at India Habitat Centre (2023), and Madras Art Weekend, Chennai (2023).

His works are part of collections at several museums and galleries, including the Bihar Government Museum, Triveni Museum in Ujjain, Silpakorn University in Bangkok, Mind Tree School (MTS) in Ambala, Punjab, and Takshila Educational Society (TES) in Bihar. His paintings have also been collected by notable individuals such as Indian art critic Prayag Shukla and the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijay Singh.