Zainul Abedin

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Records

Zainul Abedin's contributions to art have been recognized with numerous honors. The title Shilpacharya, meaning "Great Teacher of the Arts," is a testament to his role as a mentor and pioneer. In 2009, a crater on Mercury was named after him, a rare tribute to an artist. His works have set records at auction, with Untitled fetching US$692,048 in 2024, the highest price for a Bangladeshi artwork. His legacy is preserved in the Zainul Abedin Museum in Mymensingh.

AwardsZainul Abedin received several prestigious awards during his lifetime and posthumously. In 1938, he won the Governor's Gold Medal for his Brahmaputra watercolors. In 1958, he was honored with the Pride of Performance award. After his death, he was awarded the Independence Award in 1977, one of Bangladesh's highest civilian honors.

Honours & Distinctions

Shilpacharya

Bangladesh·1970

Honorific title meaning 'Great Teacher of the Arts'

Mercury crater named after him

International Astronomical Union·2009

A crater on the planet Mercury was named Zainul Abedin

Zainul Abedin Museum

Bangladesh·1976

Museum in Mymensingh dedicated to his work

Google Doodle

Google·2019

Doodle honoring his 105th birthday

Birth centenary celebrations

Bangladesh·2014

Events held across the country in December 2014

Records & Feats

Highest price for a Bangladeshi artwork

Auction Record·2024

His 1970 painting 'Untitled' sold for US$692,048 at Sotheby's London in 2024, the most ever paid for a Bangladeshi artwork.