HUMA BHABHA

Artistic Practice

Huma Bhabha's work is characterised by a post-apocalyptic aesthetic that combines figuration with abstraction, drawing inspiration from ancient art, modernism, science fiction, and horror films.

What materials does Huma Bhabha use in her sculptures?

Bhabha's sculptures are crafted from unconventional materials such as Styrofoam, cork, clay, wood, wire mesh, and found objects. These materials are often cast into bronze or iron to create monumental figures that evoke a sense of timelessness and universality. Her works on paper include vivid pastel drawings and eerie photographic collages that explore alien-like visages and fragmented identities.

What is Huma Bhabha influenced by?

Her practice is informed by diverse influences ranging from African and Indian sculpture to the dystopian visions of science fiction pioneers like Philip K. Dick and J.G. Ballard. Horror films by David Cronenberg also permeate her work, contributing motifs of mutation and puppetry.

Education and Background

Born into an artistic household in Karachi, Bhabha moved to the United States in 1981 to attend the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, where she received her BFA in 1985. She later studied at the School of the Arts at Columbia University in New York, earning her MFA in 1989. After living in New York City for several years, she relocated to Poughkeepsie in 2002. She currently lives there with her husband Jason Fox, who is also an artist.

Exhibitions and Collections

What are some notable exhibitions by Huma Bhabha?

• 2025: Huma Bhabha was announced as the first of three artists featured in Encounters: Giacometti, a two-person exhibition series at the Barbican Centre, London, pairing works by contemporary artists with those of sculptor Alberto Giacometti.
• 2024: Huma Bhabha: Before The End, a large-scale installation commissioned by Public Art Fund, was unveiled at Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York.
• 2023: M Leuven in Belgium presented the solo exhibition Huma Bhabha: LIVIN' THINGS. The show traveled to MO.CO., Montpellier, France, in November 2023 as Huma Bhabha: A Fly Appeared and Disappeared.
• 2022: A solo presentation of Bhabha's work curated by Nicholas Baume was on view at Fundación Casa Wabi in Puerto Escondido, Mexico (2022–2023).
• 2020: The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, England, presented Huma Bhabha: Against Time.
• 2019: The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston organized Huma Bhabha: They Live.
• 2018: An installation of the artist's work titled Huma Bhabha: We Come in Peace was commissioned by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for the museum's Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden.
• 2015: Bhabha's artwork was featured in the Venice Biennale.
• 2012: Her artwork was included in Unnatural Histories at MoMA PS1.

Where can I see Huma Bhabha's work?

Huma Bhabha's works are held in major institutions worldwide:

• Museum of Modern Art (New York)
• Centre Pompidou (Paris)
• Tate Modern (London)
• Hirshhorn Museum (Washington D.C.)
• Museum of Fine Arts (Houston)

Critical Reception

Bhabha's work has been praised for its ability to traverse time and space while addressing urgent social issues. Critics have highlighted her synthesis of ancient forms with modernist aesthetics and pop culture references. Her figures—both grotesque and empathetic—challenge viewers to confront their perceptions of humanity.

Bhabha's ability to bridge cultural histories with speculative futures solidifies her position as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary art today.

Notable publications have written on the artist, including Frieze.

Ocula | 2025