Farhana Akhter
Telephone: 516-236-7348
Email: Farhana_ben@hotmail.com
Web site: www.farhanaakhter.com
Artist Statement
My paintings came about as a result of my explorations in fusing the external world with inner self. We experience constant change all around us and with in us. As a result we are moved to react, interact and ultimately inspired to create. I believe that this transformation is in itself a creative process which is evident in all aspect of life. This complex process can be seen in the changing seasons, moods, emotions, relationships tying into the cycle of life.
In my work I try to visually capture the stages of change which includes motion, fusion and stillness, which represent our interactions with the external world in action, reaction and contemplation. Contrasting colors are applied with subtle blends, dramatic cuts and slashes. The canvases are at times monochromatic or heavily textured with multiple layers of color. These images represent the universal struggle to create balance and to transform chaos into harmony and beauty.
Bio
Farhana Akhter was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She migrated to the United States with her family at the age of ten. Her course of study at the University of Maryland was Psychology and Arts & Humanities.
Her body of work is an eclectic mixture of techniques and diverse subject matter. Among her most recent work are series of abstract paintings in which she explores color, texture and application techniques to convey the stages of motion, fusion and stillness to represent interactions with the inner and external world and cyclic phases of nature and life. She has another series of paintings that are neo-symbolic and figurative paintings which deal with existence and human interactions. She also has a series of paintings dedicated to nostalgic memories from her childhood in Bangladesh.
She is an active member of the West Side Arts Coalition for the past few years. She has participated in various group art exhibits as an artist and a curator. She currently lives in the Long Island area of New York.
Selected Exhibitions
2007 “Exhibit for Peace and Justice”, Second Presbyterian Church, New York, NY
2007 “Abstract 2007”, Broadway Mall Gallery, New York, NY
2007 “Double Take” at Jeannie Tengelsen Gallery, Dix Hills, NY
2007 “Kundalini Rising” at Vault Gallery, Winnipeg,Manitoba, Canada
2007 Solo Exhibition, Sapphire Gallery, New York, NY
2007 “Healing Power of Art” competition winner, Manhattan Arts Online Gallery
2007 Two Person Show at Sapphire Gallery, New York, NY
2007 “30th Annual Juried Exhibition”, Salmagundi Club Gallery, New York, NY
2007 “Her Story 2007” competition winner, Manhattan Arts Online Gallery Exhibition
2006 “Personal Touch”, Broadway Mall Gallery, New York, NY
2005 “Abstract 2005”, Broadway Mall Gallery, New York, NY
2004 “Abstract 2004”, Broadway Mall Gallery, New York, NY
2004 “Green Dreams”, Broadway Mall Gallery, New York, NY
2004 “Revelations”, Broadway Mall Gallery, New York, NY
2003 “Abstract 2003” Broadway Mall Gallery, New York, NY
2003 “Blue Dream” Broadway Mall Gallery, New York, NY
2002 “Studio Art”, Studio Group, New York, NY
2002 “Savage Beauty Arts and Crafts”, New York, NY
Bibliography
2006 Maureen Flynn, “WSAC Artists Explore the Sense of Touch”, Gallery & Studio Magazine, Feb.-Mar., 2006
2006 Byron Coleman, “Several Artists Explore the Possibilities of Postmodern Abstraction”, Gallery & Studio
Magazine, Feb/Mar 2006
2005 Marie R. Pagano, “Green Dreams Bring Beauty to the West Side Scene”, Gallery & Studio Magazine, Nov-Dec 2004/Jan
2004 Lawrence Downs, “ A Mixed Bag of Revelations at Broadway Mall”, Gallery & Studio Magazine, Apr/May 2004
2004 Stuart Leslie Myers, “ Abstract 03: The Best and The Brightest”, Gallery & Studio Magazine, Feb/Mar 2004
2004 Robert Vigo, “The Blue Hour Celebrates an Evocative Hue”, Gallery & Studio Magazine, Nov-Dec 2003/ Jan 2004
Awards and Collections
2006 “Healing Power of Art”, Winner of Best in Painting, Manhattan Arts International
2007 “Her Story”, Winner of Best in Painting, Manhattan Arts International
Numerous private collections throughout United States and Bangladesh.
Career-Related Experience
2007 Art League of Long Island juried selection for 40th Annual Art in the Park
2006 Co-Curator, “Personal Touch”, Broadway Mall Gallery, New York, NY
2005 Art Salon, Jonathan Shorr Gallery, New York, NY
2004 Co-Curator, “Revelations”, Broadway Mall Gallery, New York, NY
Professional Memberships
2007-present Manhattan Arts International - Juried Membership
2007-present Art League of Long Island
2003-present West Side Arts Coalition
Education
2004 Art Students League of New York, Professor Harry Hodes
1992-1995 B.S., Psychology/ Arts & Humanities, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.2006 “Personal Touch”, West Side Arts Coalition, New York, NY