Padmanav Behera was born in the village of Kathagada Sahi, Cuttack, Odisha in 1941. He went to Government School of Art and Crafts, Khallikote and did his specialisation in Painting. In 1963 he came to Cuttack. His most of works are done in wash painting techniques with detail and clear brush strokes. He lives in Cuttack and received Odisha State Lalit kala Akademi Award.