About the work

As a sculptor, drawing is at the core of my practice: as a form of thinking and way processing my ideas. Many of my exhibitions focus on this aspect of my work.

My recent Tanabanas (woven paper tapestries) are born out of my fascination with textiles and the visual languages embedded within them. I love the mystery behind their mainly abstract and seemingly neutral motifs, which are in fact steeped in history, myth and significance.

The keffiyeh is a good example of this. This familiar design with its border of olive leaves celebrating the centrality of olives to the Palestinian economy, and the resilience of the olive trees; the bold lines representing both historic trading routes and contested borders; and the fishnet lattice, drawing on Palestine’s strong connection to the Mediterranean.

More formally, I’m attracted to this bold black and white graphic design, that lends itself so well to drawing.

Date and country of birth

1986, PK

Career Highlights

Saad Qureshi has exhibited at the Sharjah Art Museum, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Aga Khan Centre London, Museum Arnhem, I’Institut des Cultures d’Islam Paris, among others.

Winner of The Frieze/ OWO Sculpture Prize, Convocation is on view at Raffles London. Other public commissions include the Organ Donor Memorial, Royal London Hospital, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford.

Selected collections: Dipti Mathur, California; Farjam Foundation, Dubai; Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi; and Bagri Foundation, London.

Trustee of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and features in Thames & Hudson’s 100 Sculptors of Tomorrow.

His solo exhibition for the Djanogly Gallery in Nottingham opens 20/01/2024.