Jamal Ahmed

Jamal Ahmed, a leading contemporary painter in Southeast Asia, depicts shimmering, mirage-like imagery from his native Bangladesh. Nostalgic and serene depictions of local women, birds, and horses often take on symbolic or mythical connotations. Ahmed studied art in Warsaw and Japan before returning to Bangladesh. He was among the first artists in the country to adopt acrylic paint in the mid-1980s. He received an honorable mention at the 10th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh in 2001. In 2019, Ahmed was awarded the second-highest civilian award in Bangladesh, the Ekushey Padak. A professor of art at the University of Dhaka, Ahmed continues to influence the local art scene.