Nazia Andaleeb Preema

Nazia Andaleeb Preema, most dynamic, prolific and prominent visual artist of Bangladesh received her Master’s in ‘Drawing and Painting’ from the University of Dhaka in 2000. Preema, has been dealing with the issues of women’s representation in a poetic manner creating metaphorical context on her canvases (Traditional and Digital).Her work has been recognized for its innovative approach, distinct technique and lyrical overtones with unbeatable boldness. Her canvases reveal a personal narrative that can be extended to the depiction of a larger situation. Presently her canvases and video installation indicate pleasure and celebration of freedom for women, beauty and the act of making a mark, all which is essential to transform a work of art into an idea that lasts forever. Her endeavor to attain versatility in her work is apparent in her passion for new media, technique and experimentation. She is one of the very few artists in Bangladesh who has incorporated new media (performance, video installation and digital art) in Bangladesh art scene in 2003 when she did her third solo online using digital technology. Her creations span over genres, ranging from traditional to digital, in her pursuit to constantly test her limits, made Preema one of the dynamic and provocative contemporary visual artist’s of today’s generation in the country.

Her drawing, painting and performances are visual representation of women in South Asian society, which grabs the attention of audience’s every time. Preema’s video and performances are bold, strong and powerful. Some of her important video performances and live arts are ‘Monajat’ 2008, ‘And Stare Continues’ 2009, ‘Marry my Egg’ 2011, ‘Monologue’ 2012, ‘Aged with cellphones’ 2014, ‘Ico-lation’ 2015, ‘News Agony’ 2015, ‘Existence’ 2016, ‘Intimacy Conflict’’ 2016, ‘My unborn Fetus’ 2017, ‘Blindfold’ 2017, ‘Intersection’ 2018 which are widely exhibited and received high acclamation internationally.

Preema represented Bangladesh pavilion at the 58th La Biennale de Venezia in 2019.

She has participated in a number of competitive art residency programs, workshops and has been awarded major international grants to pursue her works throughout her career since 1999. Preema, the widely traveled and exhibited artist, has also received recognitions both domestically and internationally for her creative endeavor. Along with 20 solo (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, USA, UK, Turkey, Morocco, Uzbekistan) expositions, she has also enriched her career by participating in 5 Asian Art Biennale, Fukuaka Museum Residency, 2 Tashkent Biennale, Istanbul Biennale, Venice International Art Expo (2010, 2012, 2014) along with prestigious art fairs (Art Basel Miami, Tuyup Art Fair/Istanbul, Dubai Art Festival, Dhaka Art Summit, Delhi International Art Festival). Her curatorial projects include several large-scale international expositions (USA, UK, France) featuring art of Bangladesh in global platforms. She is also an accomplished vocalist (classical and Tagore compositions) trained in ‘Chhayanawt’ for seven years with distinction. She is passionate about inspiring and encouraging upcoming generation and is an acclaimed speaker at educational institutions and electronic media of the country. She lives and work in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

She received BASIS (Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services) award 2016 in Visual Arts category, PRIDE of Bangladesh recognized her the most prolific visual artist of 2016, prestigious Anannya Award as recognition of being the outstanding women in creative field of Bangladesh for 2014. Received Fukuaka Museum grant in 2012 for art residency, Royal Overseas Award 2011 in Fine Arts, Britain, honourable mention award in fine art category by Jatiyo Mahila Parishod (2009), Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Award in Painting by Bangladesh Charushilpa Parishad (2007/2008), Web Art Award (1st prize) by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET 2006) including numbers of inspiring creative leadership awards. Against all odds, Nazia Andaleeb Preema illustrated her 23 years of career exhibiting her artistic expressions all over the world; received awards, grants, acclamations and traveled vastly to gather prodigious experience to inspire her ideas and spread it through.