Meet the Artist

Tariq Gill (b. 1957, Lahore, Pakistan) is a contemporary visual artist whose multidisciplinary practice encompasses painting, sculpture, collage, and drawing. He taught at prestigious art institutions across Pakistan for two decades and retired as an Associate Professor from the National College of Arts in 2019. His solo exhibitions include presentations at Rohtas Gallery, Lahore (2004), Dedrawing Studio, Lahore (2011), Khaas Contemporary, Islamabad (2010, 2012), and Muse Art Gallery, Lahore (2026). Throughout his career, he has completed numerous commissioned works for private collectors, corporate clients, and public institutions. Notable commissions include a 62 × 6 ft mural for McDonald’s (1998), a commission for Lahore Zoo (1986), a commission for Nishat House (1992), and a mural for the Punjab Arts Council (Freemasons Hall) (1987).

Concept & Practice

Tariq Gill’s artistic practice spans nearly five decades, rooted in an ongoing exploration of imagination, perception, and the unseen dimensions of everyday life. What he observes in his surroundings often reveals itself in ways that may be visible only to him—visions emerging from shadows, marks, and accidental forms on surfaces. These moments trigger his imagination and evolve into visual narratives shaped by the literature he reads, the dreams he experiences both in sleep and in waking life, and the fleeting impressions formed while observing the world around him.

Art Manifesto

Many of Tariq Gill’s inner feelings and sources of inspiration emerge from his interest in literature and the various incidents he has encountered throughout his life. He draws inspiration from his imagination and surroundings, developing these ideas whenever he feels compelled to do so. This process has remained an integral part of his artistic practice over the decades.

At the center of his work is a human form that is neither male nor female, constantly transforming in shape. This shifting figure allows him to synchronize form with mood and feeling, giving visual expression to emotions that are fluid and ever-changing. These forms exist within his inner world—his mindscape—where imagination and perception merge.

Every finished artwork begins with a quick, spontaneous drawing, often made within seconds. These initial sketches capture the immediacy of thought. He then revisits and refines them, developing the composition before translating it onto a larger surface. Through this process, Gill shares his thoughts, imagination, and inner visions with viewers, inviting them into a space that is both personal and open to interpretation.

Color plays an equally important role in his work. His palettes emerge from imagination, thought processes, and, at times, the surrounding environment. The act of composing, refining, and painting is gradual and reflective, allowing each piece to evolve over time into a complete visual statement.

Material is also central to his practice. Gill often creates his own pigments and paints, tailoring them to suit the needs of each work. This hands-on approach deepens his connection with the process, making each artwork not only a visual experience but also a material one.

Through this body of work, Gill’s artistic journey unfolds as an evolving dialogue between what is seen and unseen, imagined and felt. His work invites viewers to pause, observe, and discover their own meanings within it, while engaging with his lifelong exploration of form, fantasy, symbolism, and equilibrium.

Tariq Gill lives and works in Lahore, Pakistan.