Anila Quayyum Agha is a renowned contemporary artist originally from Lahore, Pakistan, and currently based in Indianapolis. She is widely celebrated for her immersive and intricate installations that explore themes of cultural identity, gender, and the intersection of art, architecture, and spirituality. Aghaâs works often draw upon Islamic art and architecture, particularly the detailed geometric patterns and motifs found in sacred spaces, such as mosques.
Her most notable artworks are award-winning installations of laser-cut structures illuminated from within. Casting intricate shadows on the surrounding walls, ceiling, and floor, their light transforms spaces into ethereal environments reminiscent of traditional Islamic lanterns or mashrabiya, wooden lattice screens that allow light to enter. These works invite viewers to reflect on cultural divides, inclusivity, and shared human experiences. This exhibition will include three examples of these site-specific works and a selection of framed works on paper.
In her artistâs statement, Agha shares: â. . . My work is not about religions, but a contemplation on the nature of boundaries and alienation, and on the power of dialogue to transcend the barriers of gender, race, religion, culture and the natural environment that prevent the true intersections and exchanges between world populations/cultures.â
Her work has been exhibited internationally at museums, galleries, and art fairs, earning her critical acclaim for her ability to create thought-provoking, multisensory experiences bridging cultural and social boundaries. This will be the first solo for a Pakistani-American artist at SAM and Aghaâs debut in the Pacific Northwest.
About the artist
Agha received her BFA from the National College of Arts, Lahore, and an MFA from the University of North Texas. Major solo exhibits include the Shirley Sherwood Galleries at the Royal Botanical Gardens in London; Museum of Oriental Art, Turin; Cummer Museum of Art; Columbia Art Museum in South Carolina; Peabody Essex Museum; The Dallas Contemporary Art Museum; Cincinnati Art Museum; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville; the Philbrook Museum of Art; North Carolina Art Museum; and the Toledo Museum of Art.
Agha is currently the subject of a touring retrospective, Interwoven, curated by the Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Most recently, the artist was a recipient of the Joan Mitchell Center Residency in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her work has been acquired by both institutions and private collectors, nationally and internationally.