Ghazi Sikander Mirza

Ghazi Sikander Mirza is a Lahore-based visual artist and theatre practitioner whose multifaceted practice engages with cultural, political, and religious narratives rooted in Pakistan’s socio-historical landscape. A graduate of the National College of Arts, Lahore, and The New School Parsons, New York, Mirza explores themes of resistance and resilience through detailed paintings and drawings. His works often collage black-and-white photographs with surreal imagery, blending crowds from Shia processions (jaloos), urban traffic scenes, mythic creatures, and mountainous landscapes. Using media such as ballpoint pens, oil paints, and acrylic markers on surfaces like paper, canvas, and acrylic glass, Mirza delves into the intersections of truth, identity, and collective memory.

In his art, Mirza navigates the dynamic tension between the sacred and the mundane, critiquing socio-political structures while celebrating cultural heritage. His recent works reflect on the phrase “every place is Karbala, every time is Ashura” using colour and form as metaphors for resistance and hope.