Online Artist’s Talk: Faisal Abdu’Allah

Faisal Abdu'Allah (b. 1969 in London; lives and works in Madison, US and London, UK) is a contemporary artist best known for his large-scale steel prints and tapestries. Characterised by the material, cultural complexity and technic, Abdu'Allah's work explores the intersectionalities of race, identity, power, and representation upending cultural hierarchies to create new ones. Essential to Abdu'Allah's work is social engagement; his formal training as a printmaker and barber reimagine the artist studio and salon as indistinguishable spaces of cultural activity that also serve as sites for new reflection.

His work has been exhibited widely including, the National Maritime Museum, London (2020), Foto Fest, Houston (2020), Centro Atlantico de Arte Moderno, Gran Canaria, (2019), Somerset House, London, and Pa Rongorongo, Auckland (2019) and the 55th Venice Biennale, Italy (2013). He is currently working on projects with the architect Sir David Adjaye and
Quarra Stone (Madison). Abdu'Allah has collaborated with fashion designer Virgil Abloh and choreographer Frank Gatson Jnr. and written articles for Artimage, Create London, and recently Southern Stars.

His works are in the co 11 e ct ions of T ate Brit a in (London), the V &A (London), the Ch a z en Museum (Madison, US), CAA M (Gran Can aria), and the British Arts Council. Abdu 1 Allah is the Chazen Family Distinguished Chair in Art, the new Associate Dean for the Arts and Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Bedfordshire (UK). He is represented by Magnolia Editions (USA), Autograph (UK) and currently has work featured in 'Sixty Years: T heUnfinished Conversation', at Tate Britain.

Event contact: Robert.Holyhead@aru.ac.uk