Ayessha Quraishi (b. October 28, 1970, Pakistan) is a self-taught painter based in Karachi. Having received her initial art training from Karachi-based educator Nayyar Jamil, she has been working for over three decades on the development of her signature technique and visual language. Her practice employs gestural mark-making. And she often integrates drawing, painting and digital photography in order to explore the meditative nature of artistic practice.
Quraishi is a prominent artist whose work has been widely shown, both locally and internationally. Recently, Koel Gallery presented Quraishi's mid-career retrospective Between Light in Karachi, featuring works spanning thirty-five years (1985-2020). Accompanying the mid-career retrospective, a comprehensive monograph was published in February 2020. She has participated in “Karachi Ki Khoj” [Re]defining the Metropolis] IPAF (2020); International Istanbul Biennial (2019); Karachi Biennial (2017); Mostra Internazionale di Pittura, Matera, Italy (2014); the Bodrum Biennial (2013); and Biennial Izimir (2011). Her Solo shows include “All that is, is held” Canvas Gallery, Karachi, (2018); “Open Presence,” KOEL Gallery, Karachi (2016); “Liminal,” Khaas Art Gallery, Islamabad (2013); “Continuous / Present,” Rothas II, Lahore (2013); and “Letters From An Underground Vein Read,” KOEL Gallery, Karachi, (2012). She has completed several residencies including “Recorded Time,” KOEL Gallery (2017); “Hic – 2” Workshop, Turgutreis / Bodrum, Turkey, (2013); Winter Academy, Fayoum, Egypt (2011); International Painting Symposium, Luxor, Egypt (2010) and Association Saint-Henri, France (1996). |
SOLO SHOWS
2020
'Between Light' Mid-Career Retrospective, Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2018
'All That Is, Is Held' Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2016
'Open Presence' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2013
'Liminal' Khaas Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
'Continuous / Present' Rothas II, Lahore, Pakistan
2012
'Letters From An Underground Vein Read' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
1998
Indus Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
1997
The Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
1995
Gallery Ardeco, Avignon, France
NCA Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
GROUP SHOWS
2020
IPAF '20 'Karachi Ki Khoj [Re]defining the Metropolis' NED University City Campus, Karachi, Pakistan
2017
'Recorded Time' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2016
‘Awaken Our Legacy’ Standard Chartered Bank, WTC Branch, Karachi, Pakistan
2015
‘Birwa’ Showdown 2015, Sadequain Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2014
'Mostra Internazionale di Pittura', Matera, Italy
'Summer Scape 2014' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2013
'October Passage' Canakkale, Turkey
'Summer Scape 2013' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
'Intimacy' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2012
'Abstract Art In Contemporary Russia' Moscow, Russia
'Universal Sapience' Goethe Institute, Freiburg, Germany
2011
La Galleria Pall Mall, London, United Kingdom
2003
'Laal - The Passion of Zahoor Ul Akhlaq' Art Gallery of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
2001
'Takhti Project' Sadequain Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2000
Alliance Francaise, Karachi, Pakistan
1999
Alliance Francaise, Karachi, Pakistan
1998
Zenini Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
1996
Gallery Ardeco Avignon, France
1995
Gallery Sadequain, Karachi, Pakistan
Indus Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
PNCA Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
1991
Shakir Ali Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
1990
Shakir Ali Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
1989
VM Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
PERFORMANCE
2013
'Riwhyti' One Night Stand, Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2012
Scroll 98ft x 42in, Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
RESIDENCIES
2017
'Recorded Time' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan.
2013
'Hic - 2' Workshop, Turgutreis / Bodrum, Turkey
2011
Winter Academy, Fayoum, Egypt
2010
International Painting Symposium, Luxor, Egypt
1996
Association Saint-Henri, France
BIENNALES
2019
International Istanbul Biennial, Turkey
2017
Karachi Biennale, Pakistan
2013
Bodrum Biennial, Turkey
2011
Biennial Izmir, Turkey
PUBLICATION
2020
Monograph Between Light . Ayessha Quraishi - Works: 1985-2020