Bishwajit Goswami (; born 1981) is a Bangladeshi contemporary artist and educator. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Drawing and Painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. He is a co-founder of the Brihatta Art Foundation, a research-based, artist-run platform focused on community development and artistic mentorship. His work has been featured in international platforms including the Venice Biennale, Dhaka Art Summit, Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh, Beijing International Art Biennale, and Setouchi Triennale.
Early life and education Bishwajit Goswami was born in 1981 in Netrakona District, Bangladesh. He grew up in Mohanganj, near the Netrakona-Sunamganj border, where he was influenced by the natural landscape of the region. His father was involved in theatre, painting, tailoring, and furniture design.
He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Drawing and Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, in 2003. He later completed a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Painting from Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, India, in 2010.
Career Goswami serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Drawing and Painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. In January 2015, Goswami held his first major public solo exhibition, titled In Motion, at Bengal Art Lounge in Dhaka, presenting hyper-realistic and semi-abstract depictions of the human body.
He is a co-founder of the Brihatta Art Foundation. In 2017, he curated "Brihatta/Immensity", an open studio student project at Abinta Gallery of Fine Arts in Dhaka. In 2018, he curated "Bindu Bisorga", an independent art project under the 18th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Goswami served as a mentor alongside Dhali Al Mamoon and Mahbubur Rahman for the *Brihatta Home Art Project*, supporting emerging Bangladeshi artists in creating works using organic and discarded materials.
Goswami has represented Bangladesh at major international forums. In 2019, he participated in the 58th Venice Biennale as part of the Bangladesh Pavilion ("Thirst") at Palazzo Zenobio. His work has been regularly exhibited at the Dhaka Art Summit (DAS), including participation in the Roots project curated for Samdani Art Foundation. His international exhibitions include the 5th Beijing International Art Biennale (2012) in China, the Setouchi Triennale (2013) in Japan, and the Kunming Art Biennale.
In May 2025, Goswami was featured in an episode of the BBC World Service documentary series In the Studio, reported by Sahar Zand.
Artistic practice Goswami works across painting, installation, sculpture, and performance. His practice explores themes of identity, humanity, homeland, and ecology. Central to his work are six core Bengali concepts: "Ma" (mother), "Mati" (earth), "Manush" (people), "Bhasha" (language), "Swadesh" (homeland), and "Prokriti" (nature).
In 2019, for International Mother Language Day, he collaborated with students to paint public street murals titled "Ma, Mati O Manush" at Dhaka's Central Shaheed Minar.
In June 2026, Goswami's installation "Baithak" (2025), constructed from leather scraps and Murta plant strips, was presented by the Brihatta Art Foundation at the inaugural Conductor Art Fair at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, New York.
Selected exhibitions Solo exhibitions
In Motion (2015), Bengal Art Lounge, Dhaka, Bangladesh Gaea (2016), China In Austria (2017), Austria
Group exhibitions and biennales
58th Venice Biennale (Bangladesh Pavilion, 2019) Dhaka Art Summit (2012, 2014, 2016, 2023) 5th Beijing International Art Biennale, China (2012) Setouchi Triennale, Japan (2013) Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014) Art Against Terrorism: Brave Heart (2016), Gallery Cosmos, Dhaka Aesthete (2025), Alliance Française de Dhaka Conductor Art Fair, Brooklyn, New York (2026)
Awards and grants
Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award, Canada (2009, 2011) Honourable Mention Award, 16th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh (2014) 18th Young Artist Award, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (2012) 19th National Award "Bengal Foundation Award" (2011) Berger Young Painters Award (2007, 2008, 2009)
References
External links