Mohammad Kibria

Acquired directly from the artist by Dr. Tony K. Stewart, Dhaka, 1992

Tony K. Stewart (1954 - 2024) was a scholar and writer specializing in the religious and literary traditions of South Asia, with a particular focus on Bengal. Trained at the University of Chicago, where he completed a PhD on Bengali Vaishnava literature, he devoted his career to the study of Bengali texts, storytelling, and religious imagination, becoming one of the foremost scholars in the field. Stewart taught for many years at North Carolina State University and later at Vanderbilt University, where he also served in senior academic roles. His publications and translations brought regional South Asian narratives to wider audiences, reflecting his sustained engagement with Bengal’s diverse religious and literary traditions. Beyond academia, Stewart developed a strong appreciation for South Asian modern art and formed close relationships with artists in the region, often acquiring works directly from those he knew personally, including the present lot.