Bridging Ancient Earth & Contemporary Form
Marufa A. Chowdhury is a distinguished ceramic artist, sculptor, and Senior Designer at Aarong with over two decades of studio practice. Nurtured at Kala Bhavana (Santiniketan) and mentored in traditional Blue Pottery in Jaipur, she elevates Bengal's rural clay heritage into monumental installations and timeless studio pottery.
Marufa A. Chowdhury
Ceramic Artist, Sculptor & Senior Designer at Aarong Centre
An Evolving Dialogue Between Heritage Clay and Contemporary Space
Marufa A. Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi ceramic artist and designer who has dedicated her career to preserving and evolving traditional craft practices within contemporary design. She currently works as a designer at Aarong, where she has contributed for over fifteen years, fostering sustainable, handcrafted design.
Marufa holds both a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India. Supported by the Bengal Foundation scholarship, she explored ceramics and trained in traditional Rajasthani blue pottery under the mentorship of legendary master Sri Kripal Singh Shekhawat in Jaipur.
Her artistic journey spans two decades of residencies (including Andretta Pottery Studio in Himachal Pradesh), significant art camps, the Asian Art Biennial, the National Art Exhibition in Dhaka, and international showcases such as "Creative Density" by Imago Mundi and "Women in the Arts" supported by the Swiss Embassy.
Earth & Memory
Tactile forms inspired by Bengal rivers and rural folklore.
Artisan Community
Empowering 100+ traditional potters (pals) across Bangladesh.
Public & Retail Art
Democratizing fine art into accessible cultural environments.
SANTAL GAON / সাঁওতাল গাঁও
1,200 sq.ft. monumental terracotta installation at Aarong Dhanmondi Flagship Outlet, Dhaka — Celebrating indigenous Santal culture and Bengal's pottery traditions.
Santal Gaon — Orchestrated terracotta tiles, pitha molds, oil lamps, and nakshi kantha reliefs.
The Concept of Santal Gaon
"Earth, air, and water — these three elements make up our home. The Santals are an ancient people of the plains. A simple lifestyle in harmony with nature is the main inspiration behind 'Santal Gaon'. Nearly a hundred potter families (pals) from Dhaka, Patuakhali, Shariatpur, Savar, Dhamrai, Manikganj, Rangpur, Tangail, and Rajshahi handcrafted every single clay piece."
Timeless folk stories etched onto terracotta tiles forming a vast continuous backdrop.
Pitha molds, bharta bowls, oil lamps (pradip), pitchers, and water vessels.
Ancient 2,000-year-old tradition of pinch pottery dolls celebrating rural life.
The Craft, The Fire & The Spirit
Watch Marufa A. Chowdhury's studio craftsmanship, philosophical reflections, and the creation of timeless ceramic art.
Marufa A. Chowdhury — Ceramic Masterclass & Studio Journey
Exclusive artist feature on terracotta craft, Aarong flagship installation, and studio practice.
Curated Ceramic Portfolio
Explore terracotta relief panels, wheel-thrown studio pottery, sculptural vases, and artisanal ceramic works.
Santal Gaon Mural Installation
1200 sft Terracotta, Clay, Aarong Dhanmondi
Earthen Vessel & Modern Glaze
Wheel-thrown stoneware & terracotta finish
Paturi Master Composition
Terracotta & Ceramic Relief
Shona Jhuri Red Soil Reverie
Echoes of Santiniketan red soil landscape
Curvilinear Ceramic Vessel
Modernist silhouette with organic textures
Artisanal Ceramic Compositions
Custom handcrafted decorative ceramics
Paturi Rhythms II
Stoneware clay and carved patterns
Folklore on Clay Plaque
Nakshi motifs and rural memory in terracotta
Textured Earth Urn
High-fire ceramic with raw clay tactile body
From Raw Mud to Vitreous Ceramic
Marufa A. Chowdhury's studio practice combines centuries-old clay methods with meticulous thermal knowledge. Her creations embody high-fire stoneware durability, delicate pinch modeling (Tepa Putul techniques), and Rajasthani quartz blue pottery luster.
Wheel-Thrown & Handbuilt
Balancing symmetrical centrifugal rhythm with organic sculptural slab construction.
Mineral & Ash Glazes
Natural wood ash, local alluvial iron silicates, and copper mineral oxides.
Blue Pottery Fusion
Techniques learned in Jaipur under master Sri Kripal Singh Shekhawat.
Site-Specific Murals
Custom architectural terracotta murals designed for institutions and homes.
Preserving Bengal's Terracotta History
Authoritative research essays and journal contributions tracing 2,500 years of ceramic archaeology, indigenous utensils, and contemporary revival.
The History of Terracotta in Bangladesh
An extensive historical inquiry covering ancient archaeological sites (Wari-Bateshwar, Sompur Mahavihara at Paharpur, Shalbon Vihara), temple arts of Kantajee & Puthia, Sultanate floral geometry, and traditional Bengali earthen vessels:
Mrin (মৃণ) — 2025 Contributor
Feature in the prestigious ceramic and craft journal "Mrin 2025", illustrating contemporary pottery developments, material dialogues, and artistic monographs.
Two Decades of Artistic Accomplishment
From Santiniketan studios to international biennales and nationwide public art commissions.
Santal Gaon (সাঁওতাল গাঁও) 1,200 sft Installation
Curated and installed a monumental site-specific terracotta narrative at Aarong Dhanmondi Flagship, integrating 100+ master potter families across 9 districts of Bangladesh.
Senior Designer — Aarong Centre
Leading craft innovation, earthenware lines, home decor development, and empowering thousands of rural artisans under Bangladesh's premier social enterprise.
Asian Art Biennale & National Art Exhibition
Featured works at the Asian Art Biennale (Dhaka), National Art Exhibition (Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy), "Creative Density" by Imago Mundi, and "Women in the Arts" by the Swiss Embassy & DAWC.
Andretta Pottery Studio & Bengal Art Camp
Residency at the historic Andretta Pottery Studio in Himachal Pradesh, Bengal Art Camp, and Nandanik Art Camp collaborations.
Rajasthani Blue Pottery Mentorship under Sri Kripal Singh Shekhawat
Intensive training in traditional Rajasthani glazed quartz pottery under Padma Shri Kripal Singh Shekhawat in Jaipur, India.
BFA & MFA — Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan
Awarded Bengal Foundation Scholarship. 9-year immersive training in ceramics, sculpture, drawing, and Tagore's philosophy of nature-integrated education.
Let's Create With Earth & Flame
Available for architectural terracotta commissions, studio pottery collections, exhibition inquiries, curated workshops, and design consultancy.
Commission Inquiry Form
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