written by: News Desk

A significant new chapter in Bangladesh’s calligraphy movement is set to unfold with the launch of Art of Faith Exhibition 2026, a six-day national exhibition dedicated to the art of calligraphy and its contemporary expressions. Organized by the Islamic Cultural Organization (ICO), the event is being presented as the country’s largest and most comprehensive national exhibition centered on calligraphic art.

Taking place at the Nalinikanta Bhattasali Gallery of the Bangladesh National Museum in Shahbagh, Dhaka, the exhibition runs from September 11 to 16. Guided by the theme, “The Beauty of Faith in Art, the Light of Art in Faith,” the exhibition seeks to explore the intersection of spirituality, artistic heritage, and contemporary creative practice.

The exhibition will remain open to visitors daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., offering audiences an opportunity to engage with a diverse range of artworks inspired by faith, culture, and visual expression.

According to the organizers, more than 200 artists from Bangladesh and abroad are participating in the event, making it one of the most ambitious gatherings of calligraphic and faith-inspired art ever held in the country. While Islamic calligraphy remains the central focus, the exhibition also features painting, resin art, texture art, mixed-media works, sculpture, and ceramics, reflecting the expanding visual language of contemporary calligraphic practice.

The exhibition brings together 12 guest artists, 32 organizing artists, and 132 participating artists, creating a platform where established practitioners and emerging talents can engage in a shared artistic dialogue. The breadth of participation highlights the growing vitality of calligraphy and related art forms within Bangladesh’s cultural landscape.

Adding an international dimension to the exhibition, Gauri Yusuf Hussain, Director of Culture to Art of India from Gujarat, India, is participating as a special guest. A dedicated Kids’ Zone featuring calligraphic works by 20 young artists has also been curated to encourage and showcase the creativity of the next generation.

The opening ceremony is expected to welcome a number of prominent scholars, writers, poets, cultural figures, and public intellectuals, reflecting the exhibition’s broader engagement with faith, culture, and society.

Speaking about the initiative, ICO President Ismail Hossain noted that Bangladesh has never before witnessed a national-scale calligraphy exhibition of this magnitude. He emphasized that art serves as a language of both inner reflection and belief, and that the exhibition aims to build a meaningful bridge between the rich traditions of Islamic artistic practice and contemporary forms of creative expression.

As interest in calligraphy continues to expand across Bangladesh, Art of Faith Exhibition 2026 represents more than a large-scale exhibition. It stands as a cultural platform for dialogue, experimentation, and artistic exchange, offering visitors an opportunity to explore how faith, aesthetics, and creativity can converge within the evolving landscape of contemporary art.