Saks Afridi

Born 1975, Peshawar, Pakistan. Based in New York City.

My work exists in a genre I term as ‘Sci-Fi Sufism’, which is about discovering galaxies and worlds within yourself. I try to visualize this search by fusing mysticism and storytelling. I make art objects in multiple mediums and I draw inspiration from Sufi poetry, South Asian folklore, Islamic mythology, Science Fiction, Architecture and Calligraphy.

My practice also investigates the the life of an ‘Insider Outsider’. I define this as the practice of achieving a sense of belonging while being out of place, finding happiness in a state of temporary permanence, and re-contextualizing existing historical and cultural narratives with the contemporary. 

I often collaborate with painters, architects, artisans, fashion designers, 3D modelers and fabricators to bring the art to life. Maybe because I come to art with a background in advertising, collaboration comes easily to me.

I studied advertising at the Academy of Art and later sculpture at the Art Students League of New York. I speak English, Urdu, Pashto and conversational Arabic. I’m a proud recipient of Cannes Lion Awards, D&AD Pencils, OneShow pencils and a United Nations Award for Peace & Understanding. My work has been featured in Artforum, The New York Times, BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, and Stephen Colbert.

Exhibitions:

2023
WeltMuseum, Theseus Temple, Vienna, Austria
SpaceMosque

2022
Futurisms at VCUArt Center, Doha, Qatar.
Elsewhere is a Negative Mirror, Los Angeles Art Show and Vellum LA, Los Angeles, California.

2021
The Wrong Biannale

2020
Patel Brown Gallery, Talisman, Toronto, Canada

2019
New Asian Futurisms, Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia
Utopian Imaginations, Ford Foundation Gallery, New York
Times of Perception, Stevenson University, Maryland
SpaceMosque, Solo Show, Aicon Gallery, New York. January

2018
Delicate Bond of Steel, Aicon Gallery with Marta Hewett Gallery, Cincinnati
Something Else – Off Biennale, Cairo
Hyperreal, Aicon Gallery, New York

2017
Art Basel, Pulse Art Fair, Miami
National Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Abu Dhabi Art Fair, Aicon Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Governors Island Art Fair, NY
'COMM | ALT | SHIFT', Aljira center for contemporary art, New Jersey
Sown Together, Aicon Gallery, NY

2016
Whitebox Gallery, NY
Salt Arts Festival, Southbank Center, London UK
Children's Museum of Manhattan

2014
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Netherlands
Tate Modern, BP Art Exchange
Dumbo Art Festival, SAWCC
Miami Art Basel, The Fridge Art Fair
The Society of Domestic Museology

2012/2013
Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, New York City
The Gartner Gallery, New York City

Click to see Saks’s Advertising Work.

Please send all inquiries to saksafridi@gmail.com