Aloptogin Tushar

Aloptogin Tushar
আলপ্তগীন তুষার
Born1968 (age 57–58)
Bangladesh
EducationInstitute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka
Known forPainting, drawing, portraiture
MovementContemporary art
AwardsNational awards (Bangladesh), recognition from India and Japan

Aloptogin Tushar (Bengali: আলপ্তগীন তুষার; 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

Group exhibitions

Awards and recognition

Tushar has received national awards in Bangladesh as well as recognition from India and Japan for his artwork.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Select 12: What inspires the modern artist?". The Business Standard. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Molla, MA Aslam (12 December 2025). "'Journey' explores history, struggles". New Age. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Aloptogin Tushar's solo exhibition underway at Galleri Kaya". The Daily Star. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "Faculty of Fine Arts". Jagannath University. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Aloptogin Tushar's Journey: A solo exhibition, 19 years in the making". The Business Standard. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 "একক চিত্র প্রদর্শনী 'জার্নি' শুরু গ্যালারি কায়ায়". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 5 May 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 Hossain, Takir (25 December 2020). "Voyage of a portrait painter". Daily Sun. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Jagannath University resumes admission test under self-management after 4 years". bdnews24.com. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 "Group show features works by seven artists". New Age. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  10. 1 2 "'Confluence' brings together diverse contemporary artworks in Dhaka". The Daily Star. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  11. 1 2 "'Confluence' exhibition to showcase diversity in contemporary art". Daily Sun. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Leading artists celebrate nature in group show". New Age. 8 March 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Galleri Kaya celebrates founding anniv with group show". New Age. 9 May 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 "Group show features works by acclaimed, young artists". New Age. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2026.