Mahbubur Rahman was born in Dhaka and completed his M.F.A (1993) in Drawing and Painting at the Institute of Fine Art, University of Dhaka.
Mahbub has held a number of solo exhibitions and projects in Dhaka, Delhi, Mumbai, Chittagong and Yogyakarta. With artist Tayeba Begum Lipi his major duos are ‘Artist as Activist’ curated by Caitlin Doherty at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum (MSU), USA in 2016 and ‘Faces of Intimate Strangers’ at Modern Art Museum, Shanghai curated by Sandy Hsiuchic Lo.
Mahbub’s selected group shows include Dhaka Art Summit 2020, 2014& 2012, Jaipur Sculpture Park 2019 & 2025, Harewood Biennia 2024l UK, Kathmandu Triennale 2017, ‘Shadow Scenes’ at Rio Complex, Colombo 2015; ‘Daily Pasture’- at Museum Of Contemporary Art, Xinjiang, 2014; Colombo Biennale 2014; Bangladesh Pavilion, 54 th Venice Biennale in 2011; Kathmandu International Art Festival 2009 & 2012; Britto New Media Festival, Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka, 2009; Gwangju Biennale, S. Korea 2008; Six Degrees of Separation at Anant Gallery, Delhi by Khoj Delhi; South Asian Contemporary Art Exhibition, Copenhagen, 2006 and Indian Triennale 2001 and Fukuoka Asian Art Museum 1994.
As part of Britto Arts Trust, Mahbub exhibited at the ‘documenta fifteen’ in Kassel curated by ‘ruangrupa’ in 2022 and ‘ReCollect’ at Kunsthaus Zurich curated by Mirjam Vradinis from 2023 onwards. ‘Art Dubai Artist Commission’ in collaboration with Art Dubai, Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation and Britto Arts Trust.
Mahbubur Rahman’s major public collections are Tate modern UK, Kunsthaus Zurich, Neue Gallery, Kassel, Gujral Foundation, India, Kiran Nader Museum of Art, Devi Art Foundation, Bengal Foundation, Samdani Art Foundation, Fukuoka Art Museum, JSW Foundation India, LO-FTF Council Denmark, The National Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Harmony Art Foundation India, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangladesh.
Mahbubur Rahman participated in several workshops in India, Sikkim, China, Sri Lanka, UK, Nepal, Japan, Thailand and Bangladesh. He joined several artists in residencies including ArttDinox, India; ‘Abhisaran’ by JSW Foundation, India; Contemporary Art Japan (C.A.j); Harmony Foundation of Reliance Mumbai; The LOFT Mumbai; Chang Moon Art Centre, South Korea; Sutra International Residency Kathmandu; HAT artists in residency at Bristol University & Plymouth College of Art and Design UK.; Gasworks London; National Workshop for Arts and Crafts, Copenhagen; Cemeti Art Foundation, Yogyakarta; Jindal Vijayanagar Steels Ltd. Jindal Art Foundation, India; Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA); Cill Rialaig Project, Co. Kerry, Ireland; Gallery ‘68-elf’, Cologne; Arts Council of central Finland, Jyvaskyla.
His significant Awards and Fellowship include Shera Bangali by Star Ananda, India in 2010; Grand Award in the 9th Asian Art Biennale and Honorable Mention in the 14 th, 7th and 5th Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh; Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award (Grand Prize)at the 13th National Art Exhibition in 1998; Best Awards in Sculpture in 1998, 1994 & 1990 at the Young Artists’ Exhibitions by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy; one-year fellowship from the artist Aminul Islam Trust and ‘Unesco-Aschberg Bursaries for Artists’ Programme 2001.
Rahman is included in the book ‘Artist as Activist’ foreword by curator Caitlin Doherty and published by the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, MSU in 2016.
Mahbubur Rahman is a Co-Founder and Trustee of Britto Arts Trust.