Born in Pattoki, Pakistan, artist Ali Kazim creates layered, textured watercolors and drawings, primarily of desolate…
Born in Pattoki, Pakistan, artist Ali Kazim creates layered, textured watercolors and drawings, primarily of desolate landscapes and solitary figures. Inspired by the art and history of the Indian subcontinent, his meticulous brushwork draws upon miniature painting techniques, capturing the finest details, such as individual strands of hair.
In “Untitled” (2022), a portrait newly acquired by the Rose, Kazim depicts a pensive young South Asian man in a yellow tunic. Eyes downcast in concentration, Kazim’s subject mirrors the artist’s rigorous formal working technique that requires great attention and patience.
Ali Kazim, “Untitled,” 2022. Watercolor pigments on paper. Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University. Mortimer and Sara Hays Acquisition Fund, 2023.14. © Ali Kazim; Courtesy of the artist and Cristea Roberts Gallery.
