Farzana Rahman, a visual artist from Bangladesh, has been telling stories through textures, strokes, and impressions. Born in 1985, she found her calling in printmaking—a form of art that’s both intricate and expressive. With a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Printmaking from the University of Development Alternative (completed in 2008 and 2014), Farzana has steadily built her space in the world of contemporary print art.
Farzana’s journey into the world of printmaking began with curiosity.
She was deeply fascinated by how a single stroke on a zinc plate, wood block, or aluminum sheet could turn into a mirrored image.
To her, the magical transformation felt like life itself—uncertain, surprising, and filled with emotion.
Her creative path hasn’t always been smooth. Like many students of printmaking, she once struggled to find proper studio facilities. However, she considers herself lucky to have had access to the Kibria Printmaking Studio during her early learning phase. Even today, she continues to work there alongside using her own studio space, developing new ideas and working on different themes close to her heart. Professionally, Farzana is a schoolteacher and a passionate art educator.
She believes that teaching art, especially printmaking, to children can plant seeds of creativity early in life.
She dreams of having printmaking classes in schools, pointing out that there are now child-friendly, non-toxic methods available. According to her, children absorb art quickly, and introducing printmaking to them could create a new wave of young artists.
Farzana has exhibited her work on many national and international platforms. Some of her notable exhibitions include the 2nd Print Biennial in India hosted by Lalitakala Academy in 2022, the 3rd International Biennial of Miniprint in Argentina in 2018, and the Dhaka-Brisbane Print Exchange Programme in 2017. These exhibitions reflect the universal appeal of her work, which is deeply rooted in emotion, nature, and daily life.
When asked about her artistic process, Farzana explains that it always starts with a visualization. She imagines the outcome before beginning, then moves straight to creating a layout. From there, she works directly on the plate, prints it, and keeps developing the image further.
She uses a variety of printmaking techniques, but drypoint and carborundum are her signatures. Inspired by an Italian painter in her use of carborundum, Farzana says that etching remains her all-time favorite method. She prefers Fabriano paper for her prints but also uses Chinese papers, noting that different prints demand different types of paper—and the quality of paper can make or break the final piece. One of the challenges Farzana faces is explaining her work to the general public. Many people ask if her artworks are photocopied or digital, not realizing the hours of manual labor, patience, and passion behind each piece.
For her, every print is a challenge, especially the larger ones. But it’s this very challenge that fuels her love for the art.
Farzana believes that the most important ingredient in printmaking is passion. Without it, the long, often the process can feel overwhelming. Printmaking is not something that happens in a moment—it’s slow, built in careful layers, and demands both technical skill and emotional investment. From preparing the plate to selecting the right paper, from etching lines to pulling the final print, every step requires attention, patience, and a deep love for the art.
She doesn’t create with the aim of impressing others or fitting into expectations. Her work comes from within. It’s deeply personal, shaped by her thoughts, memories, surroundings, and the silent emotions that often go unspoken. She creates for herself first, trusting that if a piece feels true to her, it will speak to someone else too.
Emotion stands at the core of Farzana’s art. In fact, it is the first element she considers, before nature, before daily life, before technique. It’s the foundation upon which her visuals are built. To Farzana, this is one of the most beautiful aspects of art: it’s open to interpretation. What she feels while creating might be completely different from what someone else sees when they look at it—and that’s perfectly fine.
She believes every viewer brings their own story, their own emotions, and their own perspective to an artwork. It’s this exchange between artist and audience, through lines, textures, and silence, that makes printmaking so meaningful to her.
Farzana Rahman is making impressions, both literally and figuratively. Her story is one of dedication, creativity, and a quiet resilience. Through her layered prints, thoughtful process, and teaching spirit, she continues to inspire both young learners and seasoned art lovers. Printmaking may be a slow art, but in Farzana’s hands, it becomes a timeless conversation between the plate, the paper, and the soul.
