Meet the Artist

Tariq Gill (b. 1957, Lahore, Pakistan) is a contemporary visual artist whose multidisciplinary practice encompasses painting, sculpture, collage, and drawing. He taught at prestigious art institutions across Pakistan for two decades and retired as an Associate Professor from the National College of Arts in 2019. His solo exhibitions include presentations at Rohtas Gallery, Lahore (2004), Dedrawing Studio, Lahore (2011), Khaas Contemporary, Islamabad (2010, 2012), and Muse Art Gallery, Lahore (2026). Throughout his career, he has completed numerous commissioned works for private collectors, corporate clients, and public institutions. Notable commissions include a 62 × 6 ft mural for McDonald’s (1998), a commission for Lahore Zoo (1986), a commission for Nishat House (1992), and a mural for the Punjab Arts Council (Freemasons Hall) (1987).

Concept & Practice

My artistic practice spans nearly five decades, rooted in an ongoing exploration of imagination, perception, and the unseen dimensions of everyday life. What I see in my surroundings often reveals itself in ways that may be visible only to me—visions that emerge from shadows, marks, and accidental forms on surfaces. These moments trigger my imagination and evolve into visual narratives shaped by the literature I read, the dreams I experience both in sleep and in waking life, and even the fleeting impressions formed while watching the world unfold around me.

My Art Manifesto

Many of my inner feelings and sources of inspiration come from my interest in literature and the various incidents I have encountered throughout my life. I draw inspiration from my imagination and surroundings, developing these ideas whenever I feel compelled to do so. This process has remained an integral part of my artistic practice over these decades.

At the center of my work is a human form that is neither male nor female, constantly transforming its shape. This shifting figure allows me to synchronize form with mood and feeling, giving visual expression to emotions that are fluid and ever-changing. These forms exist within my inner world, my mindscape, where imagination and perception merge.

Every finished artwork begins with a quick, spontaneous drawing, often made within seconds. These initial sketches capture the immediacy of thought. I then revisit and refine them, developing the composition before translating it onto a larger surface. Through this process, I aim to share my thoughts, my imagination, and my inner visions with viewers, inviting them into a space that is both personal and open to interpretation.

Color plays an equally important role in my work. My palettes emerge from imagination, thought processes, and at times from the surrounding environment. The act of composing, refining, and painting is gradual and reflective, allowing each piece to evolve over time into a complete visual statement.

Material is also central to my practice. I often create my own pigments and paints, tailoring them to suit the needs of each work. This hands-on approach deepens my connection with the process, making each artwork not only a visual experience but also a material one.

Through this body of work, I seek to express my artistic journey as an evolving dialogue between what is seen and unseen, imagined and felt. I invite viewers to engage with these works, to pause, observe, and discover their own meanings within them, and to walk alongside me in this lifelong exploration of form, fantasy, and equilibrium.

Tariq Gill lives and works in Lahore, Pakistan.