Who is Vinay Gusain? Vinay Gusain is a 27-year-old Indian artist and printmaker whose work centres on intaglio printmaking techniques such as aquatint and mezzotint. He has gained national attention for two reasons: his quiet but focused artworks on marginalised lives, and his practical contribution to printmaking tools in India through his company, Medwa Tools. In 2026, his growing impact was recognised when he was named to Forbes India 30 Under 30 in the Art category.

Vinay Gusain belongs to a new generation of Indian artists who work with traditional techniques but address present-day realities. His practice stays grounded, technical, and direct. He avoids spectacle. Instead, he builds meaning through form, tone, and surface.

Early Life and Move From Haryana to Baroda

Vinay Gusain is originally from Haryana. He later moved to Baroda, Gujarat, for his art education. This shift played a key role in shaping his visual language. Baroda, with its busy streets and mixed rhythms of labour and rest, exposed him to scenes that left a lasting mark on his work.

One such scene became central to his recent practice. In the early mornings, Gusain noticed labourers sleeping on pavements after long night shifts. These workers had no shelter. They rested on roadsides, carrying their belongings in plastic bags. The image stayed with him.

The plastic bag became more than an object. It became a sign of survival. Light in weight, cheap, and strong, it held everything the workers owned. This everyday object later entered Gusain’s artworks as a quiet but strong presence.

A Practice Rooted in Intaglio Printmaking

Vinay Gusain works mainly with intaglio printmaking techniques, especially aquatint and mezzotint. These methods demand patience, control, and deep material understanding. Mezzotint, in particular, is known for its rich blacks and smooth tonal shifts. It allows the artist to work from dark to light, building images through removal rather than addition.

Gusain uses this technique to focus on the human form. His artworks often show figures without detailed backgrounds. He removes setting and context. What remains is posture, weight, and emotion. This choice directs attention to the inner state of his subjects rather than their surroundings.

His figures often appear alone. They bend, curl, or lie down. These poses reflect exhaustion, tension, and quiet endurance. The absence of environment makes the image more direct. The viewer faces the body, not the scene.

Themes of Marginalisation and Inner Conflict

The main focus of Vinay Gusain’s recent work is marginalisation. This marginalisation takes many forms. Sometimes it comes from social position. Sometimes from economic pressure. Sometimes from inner conflict.

Rather than showing crowded streets or visible hardship, Gusain reduces the image to essentials. He does not show tools, homes, or workplaces. He shows the human body carrying weight. This approach avoids description and leans toward feeling.

The sleeping labourers he observed in Baroda appear in his work through posture alone. The plastic bags they carried also appear, rendered with care and precision. In his prints and paintings, these bags feel heavy despite their light form. They suggest memory, ownership, and survival.

Building Tools for the Printmaking Community

Beyond his studio practice, Vinay Gusain has made a practical contribution to Indian printmaking. Mezzotint requires a specialised tool known as a mezzotint rocker. In India, this tool has long been available only through imports, often costing around Rs 24,000.

Gusain addressed this gap by designing and producing a mezzotint rocker locally through his company, Medwa Tools. His version costs about half the price of imported models. This has made the tool more accessible to students and independent artists.

This step reflects his understanding of material practice. It also shows his interest in supporting the printmaking community, not just producing personal work.

Recognition and Forbes India 30 Under 30

Vinay Gusain’s selection for Forbes India 30 Under 30 Class of 2026 has placed him in wider public view. The list recognises young professionals who show long-term promise and impact.

In Gusain’s case, the recognition highlights both his artistic focus and his contribution to printmaking infrastructure. Art educators and practitioners have noted that such dual engagement is rare and needed, especially in technique-driven fields like intaglio printing.

Why Vinay Gusain’s Work Matters Today

Vinay Gusain’s work matters because it stays precise and restrained. He does not rely on scale or visual excess. He relies on method, form, and attention. His use of mezzotint brings depth to subjects often overlooked or simplified.

At a time when speed and digital production dominate, his slow process stands out. Each print takes time. Each mark carries intention. This pace mirrors the themes he explores—labour, rest, and endurance.

His tool-making work also addresses a real gap in Indian art education. By lowering the cost of essential tools, he helps sustain a practice that often struggles with access and resources.

As Indian contemporary art continues to expand, artists like Vinay Gusain show how tradition, observation, and technical skill can stay relevant without noise.

Most Searched FAQs About Vinay Gusain

Q1. Who is Vinay Gusain?
Vinay Gusain is an Indian artist and printmaker known for working with intaglio techniques such as aquatint and mezzotint. He was named to Forbes India 30 Under 30, Class of 2026.

Q2. What is Vinay Gusain’s age?
Vinay Gusain is 27 years old.

Q3. Where is Vinay Gusain from?
He is originally from Haryana, India, and later moved to Baroda, Gujarat, for his art education.

Q4. What kind of art does Vinay Gusain make?
He creates prints and artworks focused on the human form, using mezzotint and aquatint to explore themes of marginalisation, labour, and inner conflict.

Q5. What is Medwa Tools?
Medwa Tools is Vinay Gusain’s company that produces a locally made mezzotint rocker, making the tool more affordable for Indian printmakers.

Q6. Why is Vinay Gusain in the news?
He is in the news for his selection in Forbes India 30 Under 30, Class of 2026, and for his contribution to printmaking tools in India.