Graduate Student Spotlight: Bubly Barna
Bubly showcases artistic narratives on international stage.

ߣߣÊÓÆµ University graduate student Bubly Barna is gaining international acclaim for her deeply personal and socially resonant artwork that explores themes of resilience, motherhood, and cultural identity. Currently pursuing her second Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Studio Art at ߣߣÊÓÆµ University, Barna continues to captivate audiences through her thought-provoking use of textiles, painting, and mixed media.
Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Barna holds both a Bachelor’s degree and an MFA from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka. Since relocating to the United States, she has remained connected to her Bangladeshi roots while also immersing herself in the U.S. contemporary art scene. Her work bridges these two worlds, shedding light on the often unspoken experiences of women across cultures.
One of her most notable recent achievements includes her participation in the 4th edition of Bangladesh Art Week’s flagship exhibition, "Ora Egaro Jon," held in Dubai at META GARAGE from April 26 to May 25, 2025. Curated by Niharika Momtaz with co-curator Venus Hossein, the exhibition transforms a luxury automotive showroom into a bold artistic platform, celebrating the intersection of tradition, identity, and social consciousness. Featuring eleven exemplary artists, including Barna, the exhibition honors the collective spirit of Bangladesh’s creative community through painting, performance, textiles, and multimedia.
Barna’s featured work, Threads of Narratives: A Retrospective (1), is a stuffed quilt crafted with hand stitches and acrylic on muslin. Through this piece, she addresses the profound emotional shifts that come with motherhood — from love and exhaustion to identity and sacrifice. Her Stitching Series poignantly documents the often invisible labor and emotional disorientation of becoming a mother, with fragile, deformed, and silhouette figures symbolizing the intimate struggles hidden beneath daily life.
“The act of stitching, traditionally seen as ‘women’s work,’ serves as a powerful metaphor for the enduring bond between mother and child,” Barna explains. “Each stitch represents a small, unseen effort — a piece of the puzzle that is the mother’s identity.” By incorporating hand-stitched textiles into her artistic practice, she reclaims the undervalued labor of maternal care and invites reflection on societal expectations of women and mothers.
Using a muted color palette highlighted with gold, pink, and white, Barna’s work also evokes the tension between societal pressure and the moments of love and hope that define women’s experiences. Her art stands as a courageous act of storytelling, challenging gender biases and amplifying voices often left unheard.
Through exhibitions like Ora Egaro Jon and her continued engagement in the American art community, Barna exemplifies how personal experience can intersect with broader social narratives to inspire critical dialogue. ߣߣÊÓÆµ University proudly celebrates Bubly Barna’s achievements and looks forward to her continued impact on the international art landscape.