Ali Hammad

Ali Hammad was born in 1985 in Quetta, Pakistan. He was reared in a happy and auspicious household wherein his father (a Professor of English) constantly passed on to him not a only love for literature and art but also a strong Keatsian sense of ‘beauty and truth’ as mutually intertwined — that pulsates in art enabling one to revel in gusto, enjoying ‘light and shade’ simultaneously. Thus Hammad remained a votary of the principle that “a painter should only think brush in hand”.

With the passage of time Hammad’s appetite for drawing and painting whetted further. He ultimately was able to win a scholarship for the renowned National College of Arts, Lahore. He completed his graduation brilliantly in four years graced with meritorious ‘honour’. In 2010, he was commissioned to do the portrait of the late Sheikh Zayed under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed. He has also been commissioned to do family portraits from time to time. Articles about his artworks were published every time the exhibitions were held. Quite recently an article by the name “A Rekindling of Interest in The Human Form” in the Cultural Magazine, Sivilisasjonen, of May 25, 2021 was printed in both the English and Norwegian languages.

From childhood, Hammad developed a penchant towards Realism, Baroque and Academic art movements. His subject matter includes still life, portraiture and figures. The human figure and the ‘mysterious quiet’ around the still life arrangement has always been fascinating to him. Although his art practice at college mainly focused on Modern art, Hammad developed a great interest in realism which was diametrically opposed to the then-existing vogue in art. It was a challenging journey he recalls – ‘sailing up the creek without the paddles!’ Overall, having put relentless effort and zeal into his work, he asserted himself and emerged as an exceptional painter. He graduated in 2006, ‘magna-cum-laude’, and started his real journey in art. To explore the possibilities of paint, make beautiful brushstrokes, learn different tactile qualities, and above all capture the breath and the spirit in a painting – remained his forte.

Hammad works as an artist in the United Arab Emirates, where teaching and studio practice keeps him busy. He has exhibited in many shows, both nationally and internationally. The viewers always seek his ‘brightly lit’ still lifes as well as his breathtaking figurative works.