Dina Zaman redefines the role of a contemporary artist

The first time I heard about Dina Zaman, an US based artist who was conducting a workshop with emerging Bangladeshi artists and the underprivileged and socially ostracized children of Shishupolli. It was an unfamiliar phenomenon and I could feel her compassion without even meeting her. Four months ago, I was fortunate enough to meet her and ask about her life and achievements as a Bangladeshi American interdisciplinary artist. 
 

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Please tell us about your art and the inspiration behind your artistic practices. 

My art has grown in an unpredictable, organic flow, shaped by my life experiences as a child, a teen, a wife, a friend, a mother, and above all, a woman. I love to transform public spaces into stories of womanhood, resilience, and Bangladeshi heritage—one mural, one community, one sisterhood at a time. I am inspired by nature and emotions too that I incorporate in my art. I was trained at the University of Dhaka’s Faculty of Fine Arts.

My practice includes figurative painting, mixed media, performance art, and large-scale public art filled with cultural symbolism merging traditional Bangladeshi techniques with contemporary conceptual approaches. If we talk about mediums or genres, the sky is my limit. Sometimes I'm using charcoal, sometimes I'm creating a sculpture. I'd say I'm an interdisciplinary artist. My artwork often portrays women's struggles, strength, and resilience, and I paint women with muscular physiques. As for my public art, it is not decorative—it is declarative. It asserts presence, history, and belonging.

How was your journey to becoming an artist? 

I grew up in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh –a densely populated district. Wherever you look is buzzing with life. But I moved to Indiana, US which was an almost empty land compared to where I came from. Leaving my home and migrating to a new country, adjusting to the surroundings, and navigating life somehow did not leave enough headspace for my creative pursuits. So after a 20-year hiatus, I finally found my mind reaching out to my soul to “bring back what once was mine”. At first, I tried with paintbrushes but failed. So I dipped my fingers in colors and let my imagination flow to my body and then onto my canvas. After that, I only moved forward with my artistic practices. I have displayed my art widely across the United States and internationally. My work and community leadership have been featured on PBS/WOSU, The Scribe Newspaper, and national and international media. These accomplishments paved my way to becoming not only an international artist but also a cultural bridge-builder.
 

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Could you tell us about one favorite work amongst your own? 

The recent work I have done is currently my most loved and also special as it is on body-shaming –something that resonates with a huge number of people, especially women including myself. I have been judged for being too skinny, and also for being too chubby, as if a woman's changes in her body with her age, her childbirth, postpartum, hormonal shifts were not natural. People simply do not understand that a person's character doesn't change with their body.

Could you tell us about your work in the US?

I was blessed with the opportunity to complete three large-scale public art projects funded by the City of Columbus, each evolving around womanhood and Bangladeshi folk art. These made South Asian heritage more visible in American public spaces, while honouring  women’s strength, labour, and collective memory. Through folk motifs, symbolic figures, and community-centered design, our murals and installations transformed everyday environments into sites of cultural recognition and pride.

I earned my place in the board of directors, at Boardman Arts Park, Delaware, Ohio, USA in 2025. I still have a permanent sculpture at Boardman Arts Park as their permanent Collection. I made it using recycled tires. I was selected as a navigator, curator, and grant reviewer for the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) in 2025, and still serving as one.

I co-founded Lumina Arts Space, an organisation dedicated to representing local women artists and Bangladeshi artists through exhibitions, mentorship, and community programming. It provides a platform for artists who are often excluded from mainstream visibility. Lumina Arts Space stands as my commitment to uplift women’s voices, preserve cultural identity, and create sustainable opportunities for artists across borders.
 

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I work with refugee and immigrant communities in Columbus, especially African refugee communities. I am an art therapist for women and children, and have led workshops and performance projects using art as a tool for healing, empowerment, and self-expression. My programs support underprivileged children, displaced families, and women dealing with trauma—offering creative spaces where stories can be safely shared and transformed.

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