Aloptogin Tushar
Aloptogin Tushar (; born 1968) is a Bangladeshi painter, portrait artist and academic. He is the chairman of the Department of Fine Arts at Jagannath University, Dhaka, and later became the first dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the university. His work has been featured in numerous group exhibitions since 1998, and he held his first solo exhibition, Journey, in 2023.
Early life and education
Aloptogin Tushar was born in 1968. He has been painting since childhood, expressing interest in art from an early age. He graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka.
Career
Tushar is the chairman of the Department of Fine Arts at Jagannath University in Dhaka. He was one of the founding faculty members of the Department of Fine Arts at Jagannath University when it was established in 2013, becoming the first chairman from the department. On 11 January 2024, the department was expanded into the Faculty of Fine Arts, and Tushar became the first dean of the faculty.
He has participated in numerous group exhibitions, beginning in 1998. His works have been displayed in 55 group art exhibitions, including the Young Art Exhibition, the National Art Exhibition, and the International Art Exhibition.
In 2023, Tushar held his first solo exhibition, Journey, at Galleri Kaya in Uttara, Dhaka. The exhibition featured 87 artworks created between 1987 and 2023 using various mediums, including acrylic, watercolour, mixed media, pastel, charcoal, ink, pencil, oil, and lithograph. The exhibition was inaugurated by veteran artist Hashem Khan.
Tushar has participated in group shows such as "Sign In" (2024), "Confluence" (2026), "Leading artists celebrate nature in group show" (2026), and the 18th Anniversary Exhibition at Galleri Kaya (2026). He also participated in "Scaled Up" (2024), an online group show featuring 23 artworks by 15 artists.
Artistic practice
Tushar works across various mediums, including acrylic, watercolour, mixed media, pastel, charcoal, ink, pencil, oil, and lithograph. His themes explore contemporary issues, socio-political anomalies, injustice, and inequality. He has depicted everyday life, including vegetable vendors, tea-stall owners, boatmen, violin players, day labourers, and people waiting at stations. He has also created works based on historical events, such as the Santal rebellion (Nachol Bidroho).
Tushar is known for his portraiture, having painted figures including Audrey Hepburn, Shawkat Osman, Quamrul Hassan, Purnendu Pattrea, Mahadev Saha, Ahmed Sofa, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Muhammad Ataul Goni Osmani, Ramkinkar Baij, SM Sultan, Shahbuddin Ahmed, Biren Shome, Zainul Abedin, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Sukanta Bhattacharya.
He has stated that drawing is a basic foundation of art, and that whoever excels in it can work with any media.
Selected exhibitions
Solo exhibitions
- Journey, Galleri Kaya, Dhaka (2023)
Group exhibitions
- Young Art Exhibition
- National Art Exhibition
- International Art Exhibition
- Sign In, Galleri Kaya, Dhaka (2024)
- Scaled Up, online group show (2024)
- Confluence, Bhumi Gallery, Dhaka (2026)
- Leading artists celebrate nature in group show, Galleri Kaya, Dhaka (2026)
- 18th Anniversary Exhibition, Galleri Kaya, Dhaka (2026)
Awards and recognition
Tushar has received national awards in Bangladesh as well as recognition from India and Japan for his artwork.
External links
(inactive)