‘24th Young Artist Fine Arts Exhibition 2025’ begins today at Shilpakala Academy

The ’24th Young Artist Fine Arts Exhibition 2025′ opens today at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, featuring 215 artworks by 191 emerging artists from across the country.

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki will inaugurate the 12-day exhibition at 4pm. It will remain open daily from 11am to 8pm at Galleries 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the National Art Gallery.

Artist Professor Dr Abdus Sattar and Professor Mostafizul Haque will attend the opening ceremony as special guests, while Shilpakala Academy Director General Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed (Rezauddin Stalin) will preside.

The announcement was made at a press conference held today at Shilpakala Academy. Speakers noted that the Academy’s young artists’ exhibition, launched in 1975, has played a significant role in identifying emerging talent who later gained national and international recognition.

Shilpakala Academy Secretary Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Fine Arts Department Director Abdul Halim Chanchal and officials from various departments were also present.

This year, 1,393 artworks were submitted by artists aged 21 to 35. The selection committee chose works across diverse mediums, including painting, sculpture, oriental art, crafts, pottery, photography, installation, performance, and new media art.

The selection committee comprised Professor Naima Haque (Dhaka University), Tarun Ghosh, Dr Mohammad Ali (Rajshahi University), Ajmir Hossain and Asmita Alam Shammi (Dhaka University).

Two specially curated art presentations have been added this year. Eight universities—Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Jahangirnagar, Khulna, Jagannath, National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University, and Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology—along with Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA) have showcased their curated exhibitions.

A new curated segment titled ‘Rupantor (Transformation)’, featuring 12 invited young artists, has also been introduced.

A total of 10 artworks will compete for awards. The ‘Nabin Shilpi Charukala Puroshkar 2025’ carries Tk 2 lakh and a gold-coated medal, while the second and third prizes are Tk 1.5 lakh and Tk 1 lakh respectively. Seven honorary awards of Tk 75,000 each will also be given; two additional honorary awards have been included upon recommendation from the judges.

The judging committee was headed by Professor Mostafizul Haque, with artists Reza Asad Al Huda Anupam, Anisuzzaman Sohel, Yasmin Jahan Nupur and Imam Hossain Sumon as members.

Officials stated that although curated presentations of international standard are widely practised globally, this is the first such initiative undertaken by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Manjur Ahmed has served as curator, supported by three assistant curators.