Muhammad Zeeshan (b. 1980, Mirpurkhan, Pakistan) received his BFA in Miniature Painting from the National College of Arts, Lahore, in 2003. Zeeshan lives and works in Lahore and he's currently an Adjunct Faculty at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi, Pakistan. The direction he takes with a particular work is heavily determined by the medium in which he is working; however, motifs which Zeeshan explores are closely tied to the cultural heritage of Pakistan, investigating issues of culture and conflict, asking the viewer to reconsider social norms and the lens through which we perceive others.
Solo exhibitions include (Upcoming) deMONSTERate, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2024); Grass don’t grow on my land, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin (2022); Nangeli, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2021); Money Provides, Culture Aspires, Sanat initiative, Karachi (2020), No Fight, Be a Donkey, Oart Space, Lahore (2019), Serving with White Gloves, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin (2019); Refreshment at Sanat Initiative, Karachi (2017); Contemporary Istanbul with Kristin Hjellegejrde Gallery (2017); Funkier Than A Mosquito's Twitter, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery (2015); Safar Nama at Canvas Art Gallery, Karachi (2014); Special Siri Series at Aicon Gallery, New York (2011); Beyond The Page at Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena (2010); Recent works of dying miniature, Canvas Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (2010); Safavid Revisted, British Museum, London, England (2009); Abrasive Drawings, Rohtas II, Lahore, Pakistan (2009); Afghanistan: Future, Gemak / Gemeente Museum, Holland (2008) Dying Miniature, Green Cardamom, London, UK (2008); What Lies Beneath, Jahangir Nicholsen Art Gallery, Mumbai, India (2008); Profane Illuminations, Aicon Gallery, New York, USA (2008); New Work by Muhammad Zeeshan, Chwkandi Art Gallery, New York, USA (2008); Sublime Maladies, Annart Art Gallery, Delhi, India (2007); Beyond Appearences, Canvas Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (2006); Contemporary Miniature Paintings From Pakistan, Fukouka Asian Art Museum, Japan (2004); Terror can not be examined by war, Metropolitan Museum Tokyo, Japan (2004).
Selected group exhibitions include Beyond the Page: South Asian Miniatures and Britain 1600 - Today, Milton Keynes Gallery, England, UK, touring to The Box Plymouth (2023-2024); Untitled Miami Beach, with Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Miami, USA (2022); Facing the Sun, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Schloss Görne, Germany (2021); Drawing Room Lisboa, with Krisitn Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin & London (2021); Pretty Art For Pretty People, Sanat initiative, Karachi (2020), All the Days and Nights, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2020); Art Dubai with Kristin Hjellegjerde (2017); Present Re-Inventions at Grosvenor Gallery, London (2014); and Havelian Express at CAIS Gallery, Hong Kong (2010); Bazghashth, Tradition Method and Modern Practices, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Canada (2009); April ‘Kein Ding’, Acc Galerie Weimar, Germany (2009); Ghost of souza, Aicon Galerie, Weimar, Gallery (2008); Aug unstern sinister, Disastro, Acc Gallery Weimar, Weimar, Germany (2008); Does size matter II? Jahangir K.S. Nicholson Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, India (2007) Aug dialogue with tradition, National Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan (2007); Contemporary Arts from Pakistan, Thomas Erben Gallery, New York, USA (2007); From Pakistan to Montmartre, Gallerie Chappe, Paris, France (2007); Lila/Play, Contemporary Miniatures and New Art from South Asia, Mebourne Australia (2006); Contemporary Chronicles, Art Alive, Delhi, India (2005); Sgregation, Anant Art Gallery, Delhi, India (2005); LOVE/HATE, The Third Line Gallery, Dubai (2005); Reinventing Narratives, La Galerie Mohammed El Fassi, Rabat, Morocco (2005); Top of the Pops, National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan (2003).
Highlights and Collections
Muhammed Zeeshan has been awarded with the 2021 Sadequain: Pride of Performance Award; the 2017 Nigaah Curatorial Award, Pakistan; the 2008 Acc Weimar Galerie Scholarship, Germany; the 2007 Charles Wallace-Rangoon Wala Trust Award; the 2003 Bhatti Fashion show scholarship grant; the 2002 National College of Arts Grant Scholarship; the 2002 and 2001 National College of Arts Merit Scholarship of Arts Merit Scholarship Curatorial Projects; the 2016 Hiatus Solo Show of Ramla Fatimaat Sanat Initiative Karachi; 2016 #hashtag, Solo Show of Samreen Sultan at Full Circle Gallery, Karachi; 2014 Sanat Art Initiative, Curatorial Residency project in Karachi followed by a catalogued exhibition of the artists, in the Sanat Gallery, Karachi; 2013 SIND – Reverberating Sounds Echo Through The Deseert, KOEL Gallery Karachi; 2013 Drwaing Mandalas, Canvas Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan; 2012 Five Frosting, Canvas Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan.
Zeeshan’s work can be found in private and public collections worldwide, including Hundal Collection, Chicago; The British Museum, London; the Metropolitan Museum, New York; the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan; Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, California; the Devi Art Foundation, India and Walton Family Collection, USA; The Bunker Art Space, USA; Easton Capital Collection, USA.
Muhammad Zeeshan has been the recipient of multiple residencies such as the 2016 Kalakriti Artist in Residency in Hyperabad, India, the 2015 Lares Project in Finland, the 2013 June Seoul Art space Geumcheon, Korea, the 2008 Acc Galerie Weimar in Germany, the 2007 Gas Works Artists Workshop at Bazier Park, UK, the 2006 International Workshop at Gaddani, Pakistan, and the 2005 ‘Taj by day Taj by night’ artist camp in Agra, India.
Curatorial projects include Behind the colours, Sanat initiative, Karachi (2020); Mera Safar, Zahor ul Ikhlaq Gallery NCA (2020); and the Lahore and the Karachi Biennale Trust (KBT) in 2019.