Born in 1970 in Pakistan

Ayessha Quraishi is a self-taught painter based in Karachi, Pakistan. 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. Quraishi is a prominent artist whose work has been widely shown, both locally and internationally. Most recently her mid-career retrospective “Between Light” a thirty-five year survey (1985-2020) was held at Koel Gallery, Karachi.
 
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 recently participated in “Karachi Ki Khoj” [Redefining the Metropolis] IPAF (2020); The International Istanbul Biennial (2019); Karachi Biennial (2019 and 2017); Biennial Izimir (2011); the Bodrum Biennial (2013); and Mostra Internazionale di Pittura, Matera, Italy (2014). Her residences include “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).

MID-CAREER RETROSPECTIVE


2020          'Between Light' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
                    Curated by Zarmeene Shah
        
​
SELECTED SOLO SHOWS

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​2018            'All that is, is held' Canvas Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
​2016            'Open Presence' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2013            'Liminal' Khaas Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
2013            '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             NCA Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
1995             Gallery Ardeco, Avignon, France


SELECTED GROUP SHOWS    
  

2017            'Recorded Time' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
​2016             ‘Awaken Our Legacy’ Standard Chartered Bank, WTC Branch, Karachi
2015             ‘Birwa’ Showdown 2015, Sadequain Gallery, Karachi
2014             Mostra Internazionale di Pittura, Matera, Italy
2014             'Summer Scape 2014' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2013             'October Passage' Canakkale, Turkey 
2013             'Summer Scape 2013' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2013             'Intimacy' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2012             'Abstract Art In Contemporary Russia' Moscow
2012             'Universal Sapience' Freiburg, Germany
2011              La Galleria Pall Mall, London, United Kingdom
2002              Takhti Project, Toronto, 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
1995              Indus Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
1995              PNCA Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
1995              NCA Gallery, Lahore, 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
​2019              Karachi Biennale, Pakistan
2017              Karachi Biennale, Pakistan
2013              Bodrum Biennial, Turkey
2011              Biennial Izmir, Turkey


INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC ART FESTIVAL
​

2020              Karachi Ki Khoj [Redefining the Metropolis] IPAF 2020



PUBLICATION AS AUTHOR


2020           Monograph 'Between Light' Works:1985-2020



SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2020               An Archive of Abstraction: Ayessha Quraishi, Mid-Career Retrospective by Nageen Shaykh . ARTNOW Contemporary Art of Pakistan
                        http://www.artnowpakistan.com/an-archive-of-abstraction-ayessha-quraishi-mid-career-retrospective/#
2020               Magic and Paint Ayessha Quraishi’s sensitive marks, basic shapes and subtle textures transfer the viewer to another realm by Quddus Mirza . THE NEWS
                        https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/616939-magic-and-paint        
2020               Dot, Line and Shape by Numair A. Abbasi . DAWN 
                         https://www.dawn.com/news/1533306/exhibition-dot-line-and-shape        
2018               Exploring Space and Form by Nusrat Khawaja . NEWSLINE MAGAZINE
                        newslinemagazine.com/magazine/exploring-space-and-form              
2016               Of Spiritual Serenity by Aasim Akhtar . TNS. THE NEWS
                         tns.thenews.com.pk/spiritual-serenity/#.V-9BppN953Q
2016               Touching Infinity by Sophia Naz . THE FRIDAY TIMES
                         www.thefridaytimes.com/tft/touching-infinity
2016                Intermediate Colourscapes by Nusrat Khawaja . NEWSLINE MAGAZINE
                         newslinemagazine.com/magazine/art-review-ayessha-quraishi/
2013                Intimacy Towards a more quiet region of feeling . Curated by Maha Malik
                         issuu.com/ayesshaquraishi/docs/final_intimicacy_catalog-_spreads
2012                44 Shades of Grey by Quddus Mirza . THE NEWS
                         https://jang.com.pk/thenews/dec2012-weekly/nos-09-12-2012/enc.htm#2

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