About

I am Najmun Nahar Keya, a visual artist from Dhaka, Bangladesh. I completed my MFA from Tokyo University of the Arts and the Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka. My work explores memory, human behavior, and societal contradictions. I experiment with various media, including painting, video, 2D animation, and printmaking. I’ve exhibited internationally and participated in residencies in Nepal and South Korea. I’ve received fellowships and awards such as the Young Painters Grand Award (2010), a Japanese government scholarship (2012), and the Charles Wallace Fellowship (2018).

Education

2016	MFA, Drawing and Painting, Tokyo University of the arts.

2005	MFA, Dept of Drawing and Painting, Faculty of fine art, University of Dhaka.

2002	BFA, Dept of Drawing and Painting, Faculty of fine art, University of Dhaka.

Solo Exhibitions

2019	“The Tail Of One City”, Aicon Gallery, New York,USA.

2016	“Diary Nippon”, Wooly art magazine exhibition, Warehouse studio, Tokyo, Japan.

2015	“Panoramic feelings,“ Solo show, Youkobo art space, Tokyo, Japan.

Group Exhibitions

2024	ZONA MACO, Mexico. Death Sentence, Bengal Gallery,Dhaka, Bnagladesh.

2023	25th National Art Exhibition, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka . Dhaka Art Summit, Dhaka. “River Delta” La Galerie, Alliance Françoise de Dhaka. 9+ONE, Inter. Dimensional Journeys, Edge Gallery, Dhaka. NoMad Biennale, Poland. Bengal Nama, New Delhi, India.

2022	India Art Fair-Aicon Gallery, India. Bengal -Nama, Gallery Art Positive, Delhi, India. 19th Asian Art Biennale,Bangladesh. Japan- Bangladesh Group Art Exhibition, Jaynul Gallery, Dhaka.

2021	Chobimela -0, international photography festival,Dhaka, Bangladesh. 24th National art exhibition, National academy of fine arts, Bangladesh.

2020	The wheel of time, Aicon gallery, New York, USA. Samdani Art Award Show, Dhaka Art Summit, Dhaka, Bangladesh. India Art Fair, India.

2019	“Out of your Shadow” Blue print & Gallery Espace, Delhi,India. Delhi Contemporary Art week 2019, Delhi, India. “City Prince/ssess” at Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France. “Ei Shohor” at Britto Space, Dhaka, Bangladesh. India Art Fair, Delhi, India.

2018	18th Asian Art biennale, Dhaka, Bangladesh “Time-laps” Britto arts space, Dhaka. “She in South Asia“ Ganges Art, Gallery, Kolkata, India. SHOHORNAMA/Topography of Mirror Cities, Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dhaka Art Summit, Bangladesh. India Art Fair, Delhi, India.

2017	22nd national art exhibition, Bangladesh national academy of fine art, Dhaka. Unseen, Amsterdam. “Chobimela IX” International photography festival, Dhaka. India Art Fair, Delhi, India.

2016	17th Asian art biennale, Bangladesh national academy of fine art, Dhaka. “Random” Group show, Britto art trust. Dhaka. 64th Graduation show “ Between the sky and the earth”, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan.

2015	Taro or Alice-vol-6, Liquid, Youkobo art space, Tokyo, Japan. One Box one piece, Tokyo University of the arts, Youkobo art space. Act Art Fair Exhibition, Art complex center, Tokyo, Japan. Art wave Tsukuba, Tsukuba art museum, Japan.

2014	“Taro or Alice” Vol-5, Turner gallery, Tokyo, Japan. Art award show, Geidai art plaza, Tokyo University of the Arts. Group show, Art Center Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

2013	“Peep Show” collaborative project, Trans Art Tokyo. “Beyond the border, don’t mind the gap” GAP exhibition, Tokyo University of The Arts, Tokyo, Japan. “Taro or Alice” Vol-4, Group art exhibition, Tokyo University Of The Arts.Tokyo,Japan.

2012	Dhaka Art Summit & Samdani Artist Development Award. Dhaka.

2011

FemLink Video Collage, TAC, Eindoven, Netherlands.

Rollstone Gallery, Fitchburg USA, Artos Foundation, Nicosi, Cyprus, St Raphale, Mendoza-A+A Art Gallery, Argentina, Maribor- Cinema Kino Udarnik, Slovenia, Nimes-Biennale Contemporary Art-Gallery 4 Barbiers,

France III Seminario De Arte, Mexico, “Kaunas in Art” DaugirdasAmphitheatre, Lithuania.

The Venetian Window of Bangladesh, Ambasciata d’ Italia, Dhaka.

19th National Exhibition, Bangladesh National academy of fine art.

2010	15th Berger paints young painters Exhibition. 17 young Art Exhibition, Bangladesh National academy of fine art, Dhaka. Duet art exhibition at Nordic club Bangladesh. Video Art Show for Dhaka Safe and Sound, organized by Goethe Institute, Art center, Dhaka.

2009	International Art Festival organized by Siddhartha Art gallery, Nepal. 18th National Exhibition organized by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. India-Bangladesh group exhibition at Chitrak Gallery, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2008	16th Young Artist exhibition organized by Bangladesh Shilpaka academy. South Asian fresh graduate residency Exhibition. Nepal art Council,Babar Mahal, Nepal. Organized by sutra Nepal.

2007	6 young artist exhibition from Bangladesh at Weaver studio, India, Organized by Bengal gallery of Fine Arts. Bangladesh. 9th contemporary young art exhibition, Chuwa Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

2006	Rembrandt 400 exhibition, Berger young artist exhibition, Dhaka Drawing exhibition, by Aminul Islam Trust, institute of fine art, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

2004	Miniature painting exhibition, Shilpangon art gallery, Dhaka.

2001	Group watercolor exhibition show at Alliance Franchise, Dhaka.

1999-
2006

Participated in all annual art exhibition, Institute of fine art, University Of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Fellowship and Awards

2022	Visiting Program, Documenta 15, Invited by Goethe Institute, Berlin, Germany.

2020-
2021

Visiting Artist Fellow 2020-21 at The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asian Institute, Harvard University.

2018	Charles Wallace professional visit fellowship, UK Honorable mention award, 18th Asian art biennale, Bangladesh.

2017	Fellow artist, Chobimela IX, International Photography Festival, Dhaka.

2012	Won the Japan Government Scholarship (Monbukagakosho) to study at Tokyo University of the Arts. Grand Award from the 15th Berger Young Painters Exhibition.

2007	Fellowship for Best Drawing by Aminul Islam Trust, Dhaka.

2006	Fellowship for Best Drawing by Aminul Islam Trust, Dhaka. Won several national and international awards as a child artist. (Gold medal from Japan, Silver medal from China, India, Egypt, etc.)