Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts started its journey ten years back on 1st Baishakh, 1407/14th April 2000 by arranging a solo exhibition of noted artist Mohammad Kibria. The exhibition was inaugurated by pioneer artist Safiudiin Ahmed. Bengal Gallery has helped the fine arts movement of our country by creating an art market and has inculcated enthusiasm among people about art. In the same vein, it is important to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of a few other art galleries that started their journey in the 60s.

Under the auspices of Bengal gallery, a market for art has gradually emerged which has not only benefitted the artists financially, but has also added zeal to their creativity. The gallery, in the long run, has helped shape a taste for art. Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin once said regretfully that it was not easy to generate enthusiasm for the promotion of art. Since inception, Bengal Gallery has been sincerely trying to mitigate the artist’s regret. The gallery’s success in awakening interest in art among the upper and middle-income groups is visible when we see artworks becoming an integral part of home and office decoration.

Bengal Gallery has arranged 178 art exhibitions in ten years, of which, 128 were solo and 50 were group expositions. Of these, 26 were photography exhibitions. The gallery’s most important contribution has been to organize 10 art exhibitions abroad. This has spurred interest in Bangladeshi art abroad and has drawn in foreign buyers. The gallery arranges conferences and discussion meets on a regular basis in which artists, art lovers and critics engage in discussions on various aspects of art. Till date, Bengal Foundation has hosted 10 art camps at home and abroad. In these art camps, the artists exchange views and work together- the gamut of the experience plays an important role in terms of increased exposure and sensitization. The works created in the art camps usually find their place in the art repository and have incrementally enriched the Bengal Foundation Collection.

In the initial years, the gallery leaned more towards established and prominent artists. Later on, as the establishment grew, it embraced young and promising artists and created newer opportunities for them. In the process, the fine arts movement gained momentum.

Though it is widely acknowledged that art is a universal medium of cultural expression, there have been few attempts at familiarizing the world with Bangladesh’s art. With this end in view, Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts arranged 10 exhibitions in different parts of the world comprising a series of representational artworks by Bangladeshi painters. The exhibitions were widely acclaimed, and we believe, have paved the way for taking Bangladesh’s art to a global audience.

On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts has arranged a series of ten exhibitions. The first exhibition entitled ‘Rooted Creativity/ Srijane O Shekore’ features a number of leading artists of the country, among whom are included painters from both the first and second generations. The shows, signifying year-long anniversary celebrations, will bring to the fore a premium selection of the contemporary art of Bangladesh. We hope that the exhibitions will be enjoyed by all.

Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts