Adeela Suleman’s (b.1970, Karachi, Pakistan) artistry explores the fragile and fleeting ephemerality of life. By juxtaposing initially pastoralized scenes against the hard, formidable qualities of the stainless-steel medium, Suleman’s sculptures are reminiscent of the precarious nature of the human condition inherent in the flux of societies.
The recurring motifs in Suleman’s work—organic subjects such as birds and flowers—form detailed, repetitive patterns, which are replete with symbolic meaning. Abstracted notions of loss and disappearance quietly resonate through her sculptures. In lieu of tombs, memorials and funerals, the works confront our earthly fears, but remain suggestive of transcendental relief. They may be seen simultaneously as symbolic representations of the coexistence between love of nature and the chaos of man, in addition to the fragmented documentaries referencing recent violent and catastrophic occurrences within the artist’s sociopolitical landscape.
Suleman studied Sculpture at the Indus Valley School of Art, in addition to completing a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Karachi. The artist exhibited in Phantoms of Asia at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, the 2013 Asian Art Biennial at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art, Hanging Fire – Contemporary Art from Pakistan at The Asia Society, New York; Gallery Rohtas 2, Lahore; Canvas Gallery, Karachi; Aicon Gallery, New York; and, the International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Bologna, Italy (2008). She recently held solo exhibitions at Grosvenor Art Gallery, London, UK (2024) and at Midlands Arts Center, Birmingham, UK (2022). Reviews and features of her work appear in Artforum and the New York Times, among other publications.
The artist lives and works in Karachi, Pakistan.