Brihatta Art Foundation () is an artist-run non-profit contemporary art organization in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Founded in 2016, the organization runs public art exhibitions, artist residencies, and educational projects. Its main venue is located in a former tannery site in Hazaribagh, Old Dhaka.
History
Brihatta Art Foundation was founded in 2016 by artist Bishwajit Goswami and entrepreneur Nusrat Mahmud. The Bengali word Brihatta (বৃহত্ত্ব) means immensity.
The foundation initially ran workshops and student exhibitions across various locations, including the Brihatta/Immensity student project in 2017. In 2020, following the relocation of leather tanneries out of Hazaribagh, the organization leased a disused tannery building at Mukti Tannery-1. The building was renovated into an art gallery, open courtyard, and rooftop workspace, opening to the public in 2021 as Mukti Art Space.
Projects and activities
Brihatta Home Art Project (2020)
In 2020, during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the foundation held a mentorship program for fifteen emerging artists from Bangladesh. Mentored by artists Dhali Al Mamoon, Mahbubur Rahman, and Bishwajit Goswami, participants created artwork in their homes using found and natural materials.
Sthiti: Objects in Conversation (2022)
In June 2022, Brihatta organized Sthiti: Objects in Conversation, an exhibition displaying furniture and design objects made by 17 Bangladeshi architects, artisans, and artists. Co-curated by Goswami, Diane Rhyu Taylor, and Ulrike Fellner, the exhibition featured 33 items, including an original 1970s drafting table owned by architect Muzharul Islam and original furniture from Jahangirnagar University.
Dream of Human Nature (2023)
In November 2023, Brihatta hosted Dream of Human Nature at Mukti Art Space in collaboration with Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen and the cultural organization LABIOMISTA. The exhibition used installation art and biological materials to address local biodiversity and ecology.
Gangaburi River Heritage Project (2023–2025)
The Gangaburi project is a research and public art initiative focused on the ecology of the Buriganga River. Supported by the British Council and EUNIC Bangladesh, the project operated a mobile gallery on a two-storey riverboat that visited several boat terminals along Old Dhaka.
Residencies
Brihatta runs local and international residency programs. In 2023, it became a partner space for Villa Swagatam, an Indo-French residency initiative managed by the French Institute. The foundation hosts visiting international artists, including French artist Clémence Vazard, who exhibited her work Nodir Shuta in 2026.
Governance and international presence
The foundation is managed by co-founder Bishwajit Goswami, who acts as artistic director, and co-founder Nusrat Mahmud. It is a member of the World Art Foundations network. Internationally, the foundation has participated in exhibitions and art fairs, including Paris Internationale in 2023 and the Conductor Art Fair at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, New York, in 2026.
See also
- Bengal Foundation
- Dhaka Art Summit
- Samdani Art Foundation
- Counter Foto – A Center for Visual Arts