AMIN GULGEE
Amin Gulgee (b. 1965 Karachi, Pakistan) is a visual artist and independent curator living and working in Karachi. He received a BA in Art History and Economics from Yale University in 1987 and won the Conger B. Goodyear Fine Arts Award for his senior thesis on Moghul gardens. He works primarily in sculpture, installation and performance.
Amin’s praxis investigates unlikely connections to uncover alternative narratives, resisting conceptual categorization. His non-dualistic approach manifests itself in the materiality of his metalwork and is reflected in the philosophy behind his performative and curatorial practices. Amin has shown widely both nationally and internationally. His solo exhibitions include “The Spider Speaketh in Tongues” South Asia Institute, Chicago, USA (2022); “7” Galleria d’Arte Moderna di Roma Capitale and “7.7” Mattatoio, Rome, Italy (2018); “Walking on the Moon” Wei-Ling Contemporary, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2015); “Looking for the Magic Center” ArtSpace Dubai, UAE (2009); and “Amin Gulgee” Museu da Agua, Lisbon, Portugal (2003). His international group shows include “ENTRELACS/INTERLACED” Cité internationale des arts, Paris, France (2022); “OPEN20” Venice, Italy (2017); “Rites of Passage” Ostrale’010, Dresden, Germany (2010); “Beyond Borders” National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, India (2005); Beijing Biennial (2003); and “Pakistan: Another Vision” Brunei Gallery, London, UK (2000).
Amin has worked extensively with performance, both as a practitioner and a curator. Over the past two decades, he has presented over 35 performance works of his own both at home and abroad. He has also curated numerous group exhibitions at his eponymous non-commercial gallery in Karachi and elsewhere and was Chief Curator of the inaugural Karachi Biennale in 2017. Among Amin Gulgee’s many public works are Steps in front of the Pakistan parliament building in Islamabad and Reaching for the Skies at the United Nations’ headquarters in New York. His work is in important international collections, including the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
AMIN GULGEE GALLERY – VIRTUAL TOUR
RESUME
| Education | |||
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| – B.A. in Economics and Art History, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA, 1987 – Recipient of A. Conger Goodyear Fine Arts Award for Thesis on Moghul Gardens |
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| Solo Exhibitions | |||
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| 2023 | – “Spooky Action at a Distance,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) | ||
| 2022 | – “The Spider Speaketh in Tongues,” South Asia Institute, Chicago, IL, USA (catalogue) | ||
| 2019 | – “7” Islamabad Art Festival, National Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan | ||
| 2018 | – “7.7” Mattatoio, Rome, Italy – “7” Galleria d’Arte Moderna di Roma Capitale, Rome, Italy – “7” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – “7” Wei-Ling Contemporary,” Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
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| 2015 | – “Washed Upon the Shore,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) – “Walking on the Moon,” Wei-Ling Contemporary, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (catalogue) |
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| 2013 | – “Through the Looking Glass,” Nitanjali Art Gallery, New Delhi, India (catalogue) – “Through the Looking Glass: Open Studio V,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2011 | – “Cosmic Mambo,” Wei-Ling Contemporary at ION Art Gallery, Singapore – “Cosmic Mambo,” Wei-Ling Contemporary, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (catalogue) |
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| 2009 | – “Reading the Grid,” Consulate General of Pakistan, New York, NY, USA – “Looking for the Magic Center,” ArtSpace, Dubai, UAE (catalogue) |
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| 2008 | – “Drawing the Line,” Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (catalogue) | ||
| 2007 | – “Continuity”, Nitanjali Art Gallery, New Delhi, India (catalogue) | ||
| 2006 | – “Body and Soul,” Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (catalogue) | ||
| 2004 | – “The Search for Light,” Townhouse Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – ArtSpace, Dubai, UAE – “Other Works,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2003 | – Museu da Agua, Lisbon, Portugal – “Charbagh: Open Studio IV,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2002 | – ArRum Gallery, London, UK | ||
| 2000 | – Open Studio III, Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – “The Search for Light,” Gallery of the IMF, Washington, DC, USA (catalogue) |
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| 1999 | – Soni Gallery, London, UK – Peterborough Museum, Peterborough, UK – Arabian Gallery, Dubai, UAE – Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan |
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| 1998 | – Ankara Hilton, Ankara, Turkey – Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, USA – Soni Gallery, London, UK – Open Studio II, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 1997 | – Open Studio, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 1996 | – Paramount Studios, Los Angeles, CA, USA – The Galleria, Houston, TX, USA – Lahore Art Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan |
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| 1995 | – Art Gallery, Islamabad | ||
| 1994 | – Benefit for UNICEF, New York, NY, USA – Rida Gallery, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
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| 1993 | – Al-Nahda Royal Society, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | ||
| 1992 | – Pakistan Mission to the UN, New York, NY, USA – Zenith Gallery, Washington, DC, USA – The Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan – Lahore Art Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan |
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| 1991 | – Inter-Continental Hotel, Muscat, Oman – Inter-Continental Hotel, Dubai, UAE |
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| 1990 | – Indus Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 1989 | – Zenith Gallery, Washington, DC, USA – Embassy of Pakistan, Washington, DC, USA – Lawrence Gallery, New York, NY, USA< |
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| 1988 | – Pakistan American Cultural Center, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| Father and Son Exhibitions | |||
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| 1997 | – The Ismaili Centre, London, UK – Jordan National Gallery, Amman, Jordan (catalogue) |
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| 1995 | – Embassy of Pakistan, Paris, France | ||
| 1994 | – Commonwealth Institute, London, UK – Parliament House, Islamabad, Pakistan |
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| 1993 | – Meridian International Center, Washington, DC, USA | ||
| Group Exhibitions | |||
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| 2023 | – “Vichitra Desh: Queer Nation,” Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India |
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| 2022 | – “ENTRELACS/INTERLACED,” Cité internationale des arts, Paris, France – Karachi Biennale (catalogue) – Art Lahore 22, Lahore, Pakistan |
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| 2020 | – “Pretty Art for Pretty People,” Sanat Initiative, Karachi, Pakistan – “It’s About Body,” A Collateral Event of Lahore Biennale 02, O Art Space, Lahore, Pakistan |
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| 2019 | – Karachi Biennale 2019 – “Drawing Room Diamonds,” Sanat Initiative, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2018 | – Art Stage Singapore | ||
| 2017 | – “OPEN20: Esposizione Internazionale di Sculture ed Innstallazioni, Venice, Italy – “Taqseem,” Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2016 | – “Open Field,” National Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan (catalogue) – Art Stage Jakarta – “New Pathways: Contemporary Art from Pakistan,” United Nations, New York, NY, USA (catalogue) – Art Stage Singapore |
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| 2015 | – “Variations Along the Grid,” Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – “And Nothing But the Truth: Parrhesia II,” Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2014 | – Art Fest 2014, Frere Hall, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 2013 | – “Not Everyone Talks,” Satrang Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan (catalogue) | ||
| 2012 | – Art Taipei – “Band, Baaja, Barat,” IVS Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – “Mein: The Artist and the Self,” Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) |
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| 2011 | – “Mad in Karachi,” ArtChowk, Karachi, Pakistan – “Metal on Metal,” Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2010 | – “No Honour in Killing,” VM Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) – “Rites of Passage,” Ostrale’010, Dresden, Germany (catalogue) – “Black on Black,” Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2009 | – Art Dubai – “Going Places,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – “White on White,” Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2008 | – “Paradise Lost: A Tribute to John Milton,” WAH Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA – “Simply Paper!” IVS Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) – CIGE, Beijing, ChinaArt Expo, Mumbai, India |
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| 2007 | – Inaugural Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan (catalogue) – “Reading the Subtext,” Alliance Française, Karachi, Pakistan – “Islamic Tradition in Art,”, WAH Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA – “18@8,” Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (catalogue) |
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| 2006 | – Berkeley Square Gallery, London, UK (catalogue) – The Art Mill, Mumbai, India – “Calligraphy,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) – “Body,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) |
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| 2005 | – “18@8,” Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (catalogue) – “Beyond Borders,” National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, India (catalogue) |
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| 2004 | – “Old Masters, Young Voices,” Al-Hamra Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan (catalogue) | ||
| 2003 | – Beijing Biennale, Beijing, China (catalogue) | ||
| 2002 | – “Dish Dhamaka,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – “A Tribute to Ali Imam,” Indus Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) – Kufa Gallery, London, UK – “KaraArt,” Alliance Française, Karachi, Pakistan – “Uraan,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) |
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| 2001 | – “The Takhti Project,” Gallerie Sadequain, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) – “Vasl,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (catalogue) “KaraArt,” Alliance Française, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2000 | – “Pakistan: Another Vision,” Brunei Gallery, London, UK (catalogue) – “Qalm: An Exhibition of Calligraphy,” Mohatta Palace Museum, Karachi, Pakistan – “KaraArt,” Alliance Française, Karachi, Pakistan – “Millennium Show,” Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan – Pakistan Pavilion, Expo, Hanover, Germany |
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| 1999 | – “1999 Group Show,” Chawkandi Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 1998 | – “Open: Prima Esposizione di Sculture ed Installazioni al Lido,” Venice, Italy (catalogue) | ||
| 1997 | – “Contemporary Artists from India and Pakistan,” Galerie Martini, Hong Kong – “Fifty Years of Art in Pakistan,” Connoisseur Gallery, London, UK – Eighth Asia Biennial, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
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| 1996 | – Inaugural Show, WAH Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA – “Writing as Art in Islam,” Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA (catalogue) |
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| 1989 | – MIT, Boston, MA, USA | ||
| 1988 | – Wave Gallery, New Haven, CT, USA | ||
| Public Works | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| – “Reaching for the Skies”, Rose Garden, United Nations, New York, NY, USA – “Salt Screen”, Islamabad International Airport, Islamabad, Pakistan – “Forgotten Text,” Bilawal Roundabout, Karachi Pakistan – “Steps,” Parliament House Entrance, Islamabad, Pakistan – “The Message,” The Presidency, Islamabad, Pakistan – “Minar,” Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Karachi, Pakistan – “Habitat,” Aga Khan Center, Houston, TX, USA – “Char Bagh,” Serena Hotel, Islamabad, Pakistan – “Man and Computer,” IBM Museum, Karachi, Pakistan – “Balance,” BASF, Karachi, Pakistan – “Allah,” Marriott Hotel, Islamabad, Pakistan – “Cube,” Citibank Gold Office, Lahore, Pakistan – “Fragment IV,” Standard Chartered Priority Banking Office, Karachi, Pakistan – “Sufi,” Aga Khan Foundation, New York, NY, USA – “Father and Son,” Merck Marker, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| Public Collections | |||
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| – Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA – National Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan – Jordan National Gallery, Amman, Jordan – International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC, USA – Hofstra University Museum, Hempstead, NY, USA – WAH Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA |
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| Curatorial Projects | |||
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| 2022 | – “The Q Rickshaw Project” (co-curated with Adam Fahy-Majeed) | ||
| 2020 | – “If These Walls Could Talk” (The Corona Chronicles) (with Sara Vaqar Pagganwala), Karachi, Pakistan (www.facebook.com/Ifthesewallscouldtalkfb) – “The Trojan Donkey” (The Corona Chronicles) (with Sara Vaqar Pagganwala and Adam Fahy-Majeed) (www.facebook.com/TheTrojanDonkey) – “LAL JADOO/RED MAGiC” (The Corona Chronicles) (with Sara Vaqar Pagganwala), Second International Public Art Festival, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2019 | – “One Night Stand / Coup d’un soir,” Cité internationale des arts Paris, France – “The Quantum City: Territory | Space | Place,” First International Public Art Festival, Karachi, Pakistan (with Zarmeene Shah and Sara Vaqar Pagganwala) |
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| 2018 | – “Outsiders: Urban subcultures in Germany and Pakistan,” Amin Gulgee Gallery (with Zarmeené Shah, Zeerak Ahmed, Mathilde Weh, Leonhard Emmerling) | ||
| 2017 | – Chief Curator, Inaugural Karachi Biennale | ||
| 2016 | – “The 70s: Pakistan’s Radioactive Decade,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi,Pakistan (with Niilofur Farrukh) | ||
| 2015 | – “Speaking in Tongues,” Karachi Literature Festival, organized by Oxford University Press (with Zarmeené Shah) | ||
| 2014 | – “Dreamscape,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (with Zarmeené Shah) – “FRESH!: 68 Pakistani Artists, 30 and Under,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (with Raania Azam Khan Durrani and Saba Iqbal) |
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| 2013 | – “Riwhyti One Night Stand: An Evening of Performance Art,” Amin GulgeeGallery, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 2011 | – “Imag(IN)ing Cities,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (with Kadiatou Diallo and Dominique Malaquais, SPARCK) | ||
| 2006 | – “Artists’ Voices: Calligraphy,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (with Sheherbano Hussain) – “Artists’ Voices: Body,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (with Sheherbano Hussain) |
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| 2002 | – “Dish Dhamaka,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 2001 | – Urban Voices IV, Sheraton Hotel, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 2000 | – Urban Voices III, Sheraton Hotel, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 1999 | – Urban Voices II, Sheraton Hotel, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 1998 | – Urban Voices, Sheraton Hotel, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| Amin Gulgee Gallery | |||
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| 2023 | – “Jagah Hai: Is There A Space?/There Is A Space!” Amin Gulgee, Sara Vaqar Pagganwala, Adam Fahy-Majeed, Curators (catalogue) |
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| 2019 | – Launch of the KB17 Karachi Biennale Catalogue | ||
| 2018 | – “Outsiders: Urban subcultures in Germany and Pakistan,” Amin Gulgee, Zarmeené Shah, Zeerak Ahmed, Mathilde Weh and Leonhard Emmerling, Curators – “7: Open Studio V” |
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| 2016 | – “The 70s: Pakistan’s Radioactive Decade” Amin Gulgee and Niilofur Farrukh, Curators | ||
| 2015 | – Dreamscape Catalogue Launch | ||
| 2014 | – “Soundscape: Two Hours of Electronic Music” – “Dreamscape,” Zarmeené Shah and Amin Gulgee, Curators; (catalogue) – Launch of Dynoman’s CD “Travels to Janaicah” – “FRESH!: 68 Pakistani Artists, 30 and Under;” Amin Gulgee, Raania Azam Khan Durrani and Saba Iqbal, Curators; (catalogue) |
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| 2013 | – “Through the Looking Glass: Open Studio IV” (catalogue) – “Riwhyti One Night Stand: An Evening of Performance Art;” Amin Gulgee, Curator |
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| 2011 | – “Imag(IN)ing Cities;” Kadiatou Diallo, Dominique Malaquais, AminGulgee, Curators | ||
| 2006 | – “18@8: Kuala Lumpur to Karachi;” Lim Wei-Ling, Curator; (catalogue) – “Artists’ Voices: Calligraphy;” Amin Gulgee and Sheherbano Hussain, Curators; (catalogue) – “Artists’ Voices: Body;” Amin Gulgee and Sheherbano Hussain, Curators; (catalogue) |
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| 2005 | – NuktaArt Launch | ||
| 2004 | – “Gino Marotta”2003 – “Char Bagh: Open Studio III” | ||
| 2002 | – “Uraan;” Niilofur Farrukh and Saira Irshad, Curators; (catalogue) – “Dish Dhamaka,” Amin Gulgee, Curator |
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| 2001 | – “Vasl” (catalogue) | ||
| 2000 | – “Open Studio II” | ||
| Residencies | |||
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| 2019 | – Cité internationale des arts, Paris, France | ||
| 2001 | – Vasl: International Artists’ Residency Program, Gadani, Pakistan – Cofounder and Working Group Member | ||
| Performances | |||
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| 2023 | – “Fairytale 72,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 2022 | – “Requiem,” Cité internationale des arts, Paris, France – “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” South Asia Institute, Chicago, IL, USA – “Triangle,” Lahore Fort, Lahore, Pakistan – “The Irritable Heart,” Frere Hall, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2021 | – “Eating El Dorado,” Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi, Pakistan – “This Is Not Your El Dorado,” Cité internationale des Arts, Paris, France – Healing II, V. DIGITAL ART SALON, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany |
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| 2020 | – Healing II, Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – Q, Sanat Initiative, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 2019 | – Call Me Fertile, O Art Space, Lahore, Pakistan – 4Makers, Karachi Biennale 2019, Bagh Ibne Qasim, Karachi, Pakistan – Ablution (The Weeping), Cité internationale des arts, Paris, France |
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| 2018 | – Marking 1/7, “7.7,” Mattatoio, Rome, Italy – Marking 3/7, “7.7,” Mattatoio, Rome, Italy – Love Letter IV, “7.7,” Mattatoio, Rome, Italy – Love Letter III, “7,” Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Rome, Italy – Love Letter II, “7,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – Love Letter, “7,” Wei-Ling Contemporary, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Beloved Sun, “7,” Wei-Ling Contemporary, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Play Me II (Duchamp Is Dead), “Outsiders,” Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – “Paint Me,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2017 | – “Play Me,” Karachi Art Summit, National Museum, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 2015 | – Washed Upon the Shore, “Washed Upon the Shore,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – Delousing, “Washed Upon the Shore,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – Marking, “Washed Upon the Shore,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan – Speaking in Tongues, “Washed Upon the Shore,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2014 | – “Where’s the Apple, Joshinder?” Karachi Arts Council, Karachi, Pakistan – “Paradise Lost,” ArtFest 2014, Frere Hall, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2012 | – “Love Marriage,” IVS Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 2010 | – “Kahta Meehta,” DHA, Karachi, Pakistan – “The Healing,” Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2009 | – “Crucifixion,” ArtSpace, Dubai, UAE | ||
| 2006 | – “River Dreams of Alexander,” Royal Palm Club, Lahore, Pakistan | ||
| 2005 | – “Seeking Buddha,” Pakistan Pavilion, Expo, Nagoya, Japan – “Garden,” ArtSpace, Dubai, UAE – “Abacus,” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 2003 | – “Mohenjendaro,” Royal Albert Hall, London, UK | ||
| 2001 | – “Sola Singhar,” Sheraton Hotel, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
| 2000 | – “Alchemy,” Lahore Fort, Lahore, Pakistan – “Alchemy,” Sheraton Hotel, Karachi, Pakistan |
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| 1996 | – Jewelry for Mary McFadden Spring/Summer, New York Fashion Week, USA | ||
| Awards | |||
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| 2019 | – Best Visual Artist, Islamabad Art Festival | ||
| 2012 | – Pakistan Power 100 | ||
| 2005 | – President’s Pride of Performance, Government of Pakistan | ||
| 2001 | – Young Achiever Award, IndusVision – First Award for Jewelry, Pakistan School of Fashion Design | ||
| 1999 | – Calligraph-Art Award, 2nd International CaligraphArt Competition | ||
| 1993 | – Excellence in Art Award, Sindh Government | ||