Exchange Painting

Aliyah is a mixed media artist working out of her studio in Chicago, Illinois. She created her first artwork at the age of 8 and was constantly rearranging her room growing up. Both these creative passions continued to grow with her and culminated in the formation of Sadaf Gallery & Interiors. Aliyah offers a unique perspective that blends art and interiors. Having grown up in an urban setting in Karachi, Pakistan while spending summer in her grandmother's rural village in Punjab, she has developed a strong affinity for materials in their most organic forms. Whether it was concrete cracking from years of exposure to the elements or the soft, crumbling clay houses that shielded the summer heat, it all embodied 'home' to Aliyah. As she translated her innermost emotions to the canvas the elements and tones come most naturally to her. With her global upbringing, she creates evocative artwork that is a visual and tactile expression of her experiences. Ingenuity and simplicity are at the heart of everything she creates. Artist's statement: My paintings always start with an emotion. Other than commissions, I usually have no premonition as to what the final piece will look like. I primarily work in acrylics and enjoy combining it with unique mediums such as concrete, leather and recycled paper to create heavily textured, sculptural pieces. I love the ebbs and flows of my own feelings as the paintings evolve. Once the first paint strokes go on, the improvisation happens. My creative process varies for figurative and abstract works but they are bound by a common thread of being visually organic and emotionally raw. My work embodies the imperfection that prevails in all aspects of our lives. Our surroundings, our relationships, and our emotions.