Shezad Dawood (b.1974, London. Lives and works in London) works in film, virtual reality, performance, painting and sculpture. Concerned with unpacking established systems of language and image, he adopts a collaborative approach building networks of groups and individuals across different locations. With multiple streams and inputs of knowledge Dawood connects seemingly tangential stories, realities and symbols to people his pluralistic vision. With a particular fascination for the esoteric, his films and textile paintings highlight thinkers and theories often on the periphery.
Shezad Dawood received his BA from Central St Martin’s, University of London in 1997 and an MA from Royal College of Art, London, in 2000. He completed his PhD at Leeds Metropolitan University in 2008. He is a Senior Research Fellow at University of Westminster.
His film work has been screened internationally and he has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions, most recently: Hayy Jameel, Jeddah (2024); La Caixa Foundation, Barcelona (2024); Salford Museum and Art Gallery (2024); Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai (2023); Aga Khan Museum, Toronto (2023); Wiels, Brussels (2023); Ikon Gallery, Birmingham (2022-23); Ishara Art Foundation, Dubai (2023); Dhaka Art Summit (2023); Desert X AlUla, Saudi Arabia (2022); Fogo Island Arts, Barr’d Islands (2021); Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2021); Folkestone Triennial, Folkestone (2021); Wiels, Brussels (2020); New Art Exchange, Nottingham (2020); Lahore Biennial 02, Lahore (2020); Bluecoat, Liverpool (2019); Museum of Contemporary Art, Toronto (2019); Kunstverein, Munich (2019); Rubin Museum of Art, New York (2018); Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venice (2017); Mori Art Museum, Tokyo (2016); Pioneer Works, Brooklyn (2015); ICA, London (2015); Parasol Unit, London (2014); Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds (2014), Modern Art Oxford (2012).
Dawood’s work is in major public and private collections, including Arts Council Collection, London; Art Jameel, Dubai; British Museum, London; Government Art Collection, UK; Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi; LACMA, Los Angeles; Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; Rubin Museum of Art, New York; Seoul Museum of Art; Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah; Tate Modern, London; US Government Art Collection, USA.
He received the Sharjah Biennial Jury Prize (2019), Abraaj Capital Art Prize (2011), Film London LAFVA Award (2007).
Courtesy Jhaveri Contemporary, Mumbai.


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