About:
Nad E Ali is an interdisciplinary artist based in Lahore, whose practice traverses photography, sound, and archives, exploring memory, ritual, and communal histories through found materials and reimagined images. Their work meditates on grief, devotion, and the quiet resilience of marginalized voices, rooted in the textures of domestic life and urban faith practices.
Ali’s work has been presented internationally at Lumenvisum, Hong Kong (2024), where they also contributed to discussions on bookmaking practices in South Asia. Their exhibitions include Carrying Home on Our Backs curated by Akshay Mahajan at Platforms Project, Athens (2025); Gathering Grounds (Ijtimai Baniyadein) curated by Abdullah Qureshi, Lahore (2025); and A Gentle Apocalypse curated by Saher Sohail at the Indus Conclave, Lahore (2025). Previous presentations include Lakir, Lahore; Printed Matter’s NY Art Book Fair, New York; Art in DUMBO, New York; COMO Museum of Art, Lahore; Tagh’eer, Lahore; and Vantage Point Sharjah.
In 2025, Ali was nominated for the Foam Paul Huf Award. Central to their practice is Tasveer, founded in 2023, Pakistan’s first dedicated photo publication initiative. They are also the co-founder and editor of Dounumber, a collective shaping independent and alternative publishing practices.
Exhibitions
“Connecting pages” Curated by Michelle Wan Chan Chee & Anshika Varma at Lumenvisum, Hong Kong 2024
“Kaghazi Pairahan” Curated by Akshay Mahajan & Devadeep at Printed Matter’s NY Art Book Fair, NYC 2024
“PHOTOGRAPHS,” COMO Museum of Art, Lahore, Pakistan 2023
“Karbal Di Kahani,” Dumbo gallery, Brooklyn, NYC 2023
“Tasveer,” Group Show and Publication Launch, Tagheer, Lahore, Pakistan 2023
“Vantage Point Sharjah 10,” Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE 2022
“Extended” curated by Sarker Protick and Samsul Alam, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2022
In collaboration with VII Academy and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute
“Pakistanis Jailed Abroad,” Campaign and Solo Exhibition at International Migrant Day 2021
with Justice Project Pakistan – Islamabad
“Even Though the Whole World Is Burning,” Angkor Photo Festival 16th Edition 2020, Cambodia 2020
“The Other Horses,” Solo Exhibition & Book Launch, Gurmani Centre for 2019
Languages and Literature (LUMS), Lahore, Pakistan
“Vantage Point Sharjah 7,” Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE 2019
“Confirmations / Contradictions” 2019
New Trends in Contemporary Photography (Islamabad Art Fest 2019 held at PNCA), Pakistan
Khoj- International Artist Association Gallery, Group Show at Delhi, India 2017
“Is Saye Kay Parcham Talay,” IVS Gallery, Group Show at Karachi 2015
Publications:
"Memory and mourning in Lahore Shia processions" 2022
Link: Caravan Magazine
"Tracing contemporary photography in Pakistan through the lens of Arif Mahmood and Nade Ali" 2022
Link: The Karachi Collective
بیرون ملک قید پاکستانیوں کا غم: ‘خدا کے نام پر دھوکہ دینے والے رحم نہیں کرتے
Link: BBC Urdu
"Children living on the frontline of the climate" 2021
Link: The Guardian
"The filmy rise and fall of Lahore’s Bari Studios" 2019
Link: Dawn
"The ebbing of Mauj Darya" 2019
Link: Dawn
"The last Dhobi Ghat" 2019
Link: Dawn
"Condemned to life" 2018
Link: Dawn
"Welcome to Rhymistan, The Launchpad for Pakistan’s Exploding Hip-Hop Scene" 2018
Link: Vice
"The disappearing art of making Eastern music instruments" 2018
Link: Herald
"Why citrus production is not living up to its potential" 2018