Born in 1990 in Karachi (Pakistan)
Lives and works in Karachi (Pakistan)
UMISSA Scholar, Arsalan Nasir obtained his Master’s Degree in Art & Design Studies, from Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, in 2017. He received his BFA (with Distinction) from the University of Karachi in 2013. As a practicing Visual Artist he has exhibited his work in several exhibitions as well as solo presentations, the most recent of which was at VASL Association’s Museum of Abandoned Spaces: “Dreams on Sale”. Nasir won the Emerging Artist Prize at the Karachi Biennale 2019. His residencies include IRL: In Real Life at VM Art Gallery, Social Sculpture at VASL in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Indigenous Responses at Exilir School in collaboration with DOVS (Karachi University), and Incubator at Sanat Initiative. From 2014 to 2017, Nasir worked as a Scale Model Artist at KSEW for Pakistan Navy. Currently, he teaches as an Assistant Professor at Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture. His work centers on New Media forms of art, exploring ideas of interactive art, unconventional installations, and art’s role in in the public arena, which initiate conversations of social, cultural and environmental concerns.
WORKSHOPS
2021 Faculty Development workshop conducted at IVS, Reimagining an Art Curriculum during the Pandemic.
2020 V.M Kids IRL; in real life, V.M Art Gallery, Karachi
2018 Future Here, Youth for sustainable living, Goethe Institute, Karachi.
2017 Earth Day, Every Day, sponsored by VASL at Beconhouse School System.
2014 ART LAB, Saturday Studio, DHA, Karachi. 2014 Citizen Archival Pakistan (CAP). Pakistan, Karachi.
2014 Korangi Kay Rang, Charter of Compassion Pakistan. Karachi. 2014 PEF Carnival, Beach Luxury Hotel. Karachi.
EXHIBITIONS
2021 Khat-o-Kitabat, curated by Nurrayah Shiekh Nabi & R.M Naeem, O Art Space, Lahore.
2021 The Smog Show, curated by Irfan Gul Dahri, Zahoor ul Ikhlaq Gallery, NCA, Lahore
2021 Group show curated by Malika Rangoonwala, Emerged, V.M. Art Gallery, Karachi.
2021 Solo Presentation, Dreams on SALE; Museum of abandoned spaces, VASL Artists` Association, Karachi.
2020 Pretty Art for Pretty People. Curated by Champa at Sanat Initiative, Karachi.
2020 Solo Presentation at IRL. In real life, VM Art Gallery, Karachi.
2020 Artists for Flood Relief, Online Fundraising Exhibition.
2020 Qudraat Ke Anasaar: Earth, Air, Water, Fire. Curated By Shaheen Jaffrani. Faraar Gallery, T2F Karachi.
2019 Solo Presentation, Emerging Artist Prize, Karachi Biennale 19.
2019 Karachi ke Nazaaray, CFK 2019. Curated by Shaheen Jaffrani, Alliance Francaise de Karachi.
2019 Walking through play, Curated by Romila Kareem, V.M Art Gallery, Karachi.
2018 KS&EW, IDEAS 2018, Expo Center, Karachi.
2018 Karachi Ka Manzarnama, VASL Artist Association, Traveling Show.
2017 Karachi Biennale 17, Frere Hall, Karachi.
2017 Ingenious Responses, Elixir School, Karachi.
2017 Microcosm, Curated by Adeel-uz-Zafar, Gandhara Art Gallery, Karachi.
2017 At Home, Curated by Sundas Azfer at Netherlands Embassy in Islamabad.
2017 Master’s Degree Show at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore.
2016 Past and Present in the World of Tomorrow, Royal Palm Hotel, Lahore.
2016 U-Turn, Sanat Gallery, Karachi.
2016 IBTAADA, Group Show, Studio Seven Gallery, Karachi.
2015 The Headlines, Curated by Munawar Ali Syed, Sadiqain Gallery, Frere Hall, Karachi.
2015 From the Personal & the Political, Two Person Show, Curated by Aziz Sohail, Artchowk Gallery.
2015 Speaking in tongues, Karachi Literary Festival, Beach Luxury, Karachi.
2014 Dreamscape, at Amin Gulgee art gallery, Karachi.
2014 IDEAS 2014, Expo Center, Karachi
2014 INCUBATOR, Sanat gallery, Karachi Pakistan.
2014 Identifiable Localities, IVS Gallery, Karachi Pakistan.
2014 FRESH! At Amin Gulgee art gallery, Karachi.
2014 Emerging Talent 2014, V.M Art gallery, Karachi.
2014 Group show, Saturday Studio, Curated by S.M Raza, Karachi.
2013 Group show, MAD IN KARACHI, Art chowk gallery. Karachi.
2013 Degree show at Dept. of Visual Studies, Karachi University. Pakistan.
AWARDS
2013 Distinction in B.FA program, Dept. of visual studies, Karachi University. Karachi.
2013 Scholarship Award 2013, V.M Art Gallery.
2015 South Asia Foundation, Madanjeet Singh Scholarship Award. (UMMESA)
2017 Honors in MAADS Post graduate program, BNU.
2019 Emerging Artist Award, Karachi Biennale 19.
PERFORMANCES
2014 Dreamscape, at Amin Gulgee art gallery, Karachi.
2014 Group Show, FRESH! At Amin Gulgee art gallery, Karachi.
RESIDENCIES
2014 Sanat Initiative, First artist-in-residency program, Karachi Pakistan.
2017 Social Sculpture, VASL Artist Association, Karachi.
2017 Ingenious Responses, Elixir School, in collaboration with DOVS. University of Karachi.
2020 IRL. In real life. New Media Residency, VM Art Gallery. Karachi.