US Ambassador Attends Art Event in Dhaka, Honours Ekushey Padak-Winning
Artist Rokeya Sultana

Dhaka: United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen highlighted the strong cultural ties between Bangladesh and the United States while attending an event honouring Ekushey Padak-winning artist Professor Dr Rokeya Sultana in Dhaka.

The event was held on Saturday at the Garden Gallery in Baridhara and was organised by Gallery Cosmos. Ambassador Christensen attended as the chief guest, accompanied by his wife, Deanne Dao.

Jointly organised by Gallery Cosmos and House of Solis, the programme featured artworks produced during a workshop held at Cosmos Atelier71. Artists, organisers, and art enthusiasts gathered at the event to reflect on the learning, collaboration, and artistic exchange fostered during the workshop.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Christensen said he and his wife have long admired the creativity and spirit of Bangladeshi artists. He recalled that during an early visit to an art gallery in Dhaka, they noticed the work of Dr Rokeya Sultana and were immediately drawn to it.

The ambassador also noted that Dr Sultana is a Fulbright alumna of the United States government programme and completed her Fulbright at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, which he described as a special connection.

He praised the vibrancy of Bangladesh’s art scene and the efforts being made to mentor the next generation of artists. According to him, cultural exchange initiatives such as the Fulbright programme play an important role in strengthening connections between artists and creative communities in both countries.

Nahar Khan, founder of House of Solis, said that over the past few days, Professor Rokeya Sultana led a workshop on printmaking and collography at Cosmos Atelier71. She noted that the artist shared not only her technical expertise but also encouraged young artists to embrace experimentation and creative courage. The artworks displayed at the exhibition, she added, were the result of dialogue and exchange between mentor and participating artists.

Tehmina Enayet, Director of Gallery Cosmos, said the gallery and Cosmos Atelier71 have long aimed to create an active platform for artistic practice and collaboration. The studio, which has been active for nearly two decades, has become an important centre for printmaking and creative exploration where artists can experiment, learn, and collaborate.

She added that the initiatives of Cosmos have also expanded beyond Bangladesh through international residencies, exchange programmes, and collaborations. Bangladeshi artists have participated in exhibitions and art fairs in cities such as Venice, New York, Miami, Singapore, Toronto, Kathmandu, and Mumbai, helping present Bangladeshi art to a global
audience.

In her remarks, Professor Dr Rokeya Sultana thanked the organisers and reflected on the importance of sharing knowledge in artistic practice. She said that throughout her career, she has tried to share her experience and techniques through workshops, universities, and artistic communities around the world.

She also emphasised that art does not require a specific language and has no boundaries, noting that it connects people beyond geography and culture.

During the event, Ambassador Brent T. Christensen presented a commemorative crest to Professor Dr Rokeya Sultana.

Among others present at the programme were former caretaker government foreign minister Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, veteran diplomat Farooq Sobhan, and members of the art and cultural community.