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 deMONSTERate, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2024); Grass don’t grow on my land, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin, Germany (2022); Nangeli, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2021); Money Provides, Culture Aspires, Sanat initiative, Karachi, Pakistan (2020), No Fight, Be a Donkey, Oart Space, Lahore, Pakistan (2019), Serving with White Gloves, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin, Germany (2019); Refreshment at Sanat Initiative, Karachi, Pakistan (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, Pakistan (2014); Special Siri Series at Aicon Gallery, New York, USA (2011); Recent works of dying miniature, Canvas Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan (2010); Abrasive Drawings, Rohtas II, Lahore, Pakistan (2009); 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).
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); Conversations, O Art Space, Pakistan (2024); Nyx, Sanat Initiative, Karachi, Pakistan (2023); The Emperor’s new clothes, Numaishgha, Lahore, Pakistan (2023); The Figure of Sound, Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, India (2023); Creation of Eve, artvoice, online (2023); Figure 23, Curated by Sana Arjumand, Gallery 6, Islamabad, Pakistan (2023); Facing the Sun, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Schloss Görne, Germany (2021); Drawing Room Lisboa, with Krisitn Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin & London, Germany & UK (2021); Pretty Art For Pretty People, Sanat initiative, Karachi, Pakistan (2020), All the Days and Nights, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2020); Present Re-Inventions at Grosvenor Gallery, London, UK (2014); Beyond The Page, Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena USA (2010); Safavid Revisted, British Museum, London, UK (2009); 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); Afghanistan: Future, Gemak / Gemeente Museum, Netherlands (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, Melbourne Australia (2006); Reinventing Narratives, La Galerie Mohammed El Fassi, Rabat, Morocco (2005); Contemporary Miniature Paintings From Pakistan, Fukouka Asian Art Museum, Japan (2004); Terror can not be examined by war, Metropolitan Museum Tokyo, Japan (2004); Top of the Pops, National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan (2003).
Highlights and Collections
Muhammad Zeeshan's work 'Mubarak', commissioned by The Citizens Archive of Pakistan, is currently on display at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa, Canada.
Muhammad Zeeshan has been the recipient of various awards amongst them being the 2021 Sadeguain: Price of Performance Award; the 2017 Nigaah Curatorial Award, Pakistan; the 2008 Acc Weimar Galerie Scholarship, Germany; the 2007 Charles Wallace-Rangoon Wala Trust Award. Zeeshan has also been granted residencies, most recently in 2024 he completed a residency with Dastaangoi & Bayt AlMamzar. Previously, Zeeshan was awarded with the 2016 Kalakriti Artist in Residency in Hyperabad, India and the 2015 Lares Project, in Finland. Zeeshan’s work can be found in private and public collections worldwide, including Hundal Collection, Chicago, USA; British Museum, London, UK; Metropolitan Museum, New York, USA; Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan; Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, California, USA; Devi Art Foundation, India; Walton Family Collection, USA; The Bunker Art Space, USA; Easton Capital Collection, USA. Zeeshan is recognised also for his curatorial projects including the ArtFest Karachi in 2024 and the Karachi Biennale in 2019.