UK Museum hosts exhibition by Bangladeshi artist Soma Surovi Janat, supported by British Council

Bangladeshi Artist Soma Surovi Jannat Holds Historic Solo Exhibition at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum

In a groundbreaking achievement for Bangladeshi art, Soma Surovi Jannat has become the first Bangladesh-based artist to hold a solo exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum — the oldest public museum in the UK and the University of Oxford’s premier institution for art and archaeology.

The exhibition, titled “Soma Surovi Jannat: Climate Culture Care”, opened on March 28 as part of the fifth edition of the Ashmolean NOW series. This initiative invites contemporary artists to create new works inspired by the museum’s historic collections.

The exhibition showcases paintings, drawings, and installations created by Surovi following her 2023 residency at the Ashmolean. Her works explore the connection between climate change, natural disasters, and social inequality. Deeply inspired by Bangladesh’s Sundarbans mangrove forest and the museum’s rich collection of art and antiquities, the pieces reflect on environmental crises, the bond between nature and humanity, and our shared responsibility to protect the planet.

Curated by Professor Mallica Kumbera Landrus, Keeper of Eastern Art and Curator of South Asian Art at the Ashmolean, the exhibition features around 40 works. Highlights include various pieces on paper, a 30-foot-long scroll, and a large ephemeral drawing that the artist is completing directly on the gallery wall. Professor Landrus has also written a special 112-page illustrated catalogue to accompany the show.

British Council’s Reaction Maarya Rehman, Deputy Director Bangladesh at the British Council, described the exhibition as a proud milestone: “This is the first solo exhibition by a Bangladesh-based artist in a UK museum. Soma Surovi Jannat’s work beautifully showcases Bangladesh’s cultural richness while contributing a strong voice to global discussions on environment, identity, and climate.”

Museum Director’s Statement Xa Sturgis, Director of the Ashmolean Museum, said the exhibition is expected to spark important conversations about Bangladesh and its contemporary art, especially as the country celebrates its 55th anniversary this year. She highlighted how the show connects South Asian art history, shared socio-political themes, and urgent contemporary issues.

Most of the works, created between 2023 and 2025, were developed during Surovi’s residency. Through her art, she urges collective action against the climate crisis and emphasizes the need for a more sustainable and equitable future.