From farmer’s son to emerging artist: How Kumar Misal is turning agrarian roots into powerful art

Kumar Misal, the 31-year-old artist from Kumbhoj village in Maharashtra, has transformed his agrarian roots into a powerful form of art. Despite his professors at Mumbai’s JJ School of Art advising him to create larger works, Kumar remained dedicated to smaller pieces due to financial constraints. Over a decade later, he has become one of India's promising new voices in art, receiving the Emerging Artists Award 2026 by FICA and Mrinalini Mukherjee Foundation.

His work focuses on agrarian issues and Adivasi rights, employing aesthetic appeal that evokes empathy and functions as a socio-political tool.

Born into a family of farmers, Kumar initially considered a career in a secure government job. However, he followed his artistic inclination and faced disappointment when he failed the physical exam for the police exam. His former art teacher encouraged him to pursue a career in art, which eventually led him to enter and rank second in the JJ School of Arts entrance exam.

Kumar faced financial hardships in his hostel days, creating murals for extra income. This struggle helped him find inspiration during a paper-making workshop in Kerala, where he began using fibers from banana leaves, corn, and sugar extracts to create unique handmade paper. This distinctive paper is now a crucial element in his art, as seen in works like Rawanth (2023) and Varula (2024).