Born in Pakistan but a true “citizen of the world", Aliya has spent much of her life on the move. She has lived in Pakistan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, London, Toronto, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and now calls Bahrain home.
She is a self-taught ceramic artist and has enjoyed the process of educating herself in the art by researching, reading, and experimenting.
She has attended George Brown College in Toronto to study Jewellery Design. This has allowed her to incorporate metalsmith techniques in her ceramic work as well as to create jewellery out of earthenware.
The Artist
Building a lamp, urn, vase, or carving a sculpture is always a unique experience for me. I rarely have an exact final image in mind. I mostly let the endless possibilities of form, scale, texture and function that forever change with the mood of both creator and clay, determine my ultimate work of art. The majority of my pieces are hand built as hand building gives me a sense of freedom. I strive to use many elements in my creations from the marks of my fingers and tools to the effects of fire and smoke during the kiln process.
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After the first firing with clay getting converting to ceramic is when the painter in me comes alive. I often times feel that I am a painter who makes pottery. A big source of inspiration for me are painters from the 20th century, especially Picasso.
The possibilities of glazing a piece are numerous. Layering glazes for that new ‘surprise’ or getting involved in intricately painting the piece with under-glazes or a combination of under and over glazes is where my true passion is released. I use fun, playful and narrative images onto three dimensional clay canvases. The sculptural aspect of the form opens up endless possibilities of creativity for me.
Functionality is a key element in my work. An object of art must perform some function along with imparting visual joy. All my wall murals and platters have been finished with food safe glazes and can be used to serve edibles. The urns can doubled as flower vases and jars to store items and the ‘Picasso’ inspired sculptures are actually candle holders. The stories in my pieces are an expression of my visual stimuli and my fanciful imagination.
Bahrain
Ceramic Bowl
January 2020
The years I spent in Bahrain inspired the creation of this bowl.
My drawings celebrate the rich diversity of Bahrain’s population, a blend of faiths, cultures, and traditions that make it a truly global city. The imagery reflects the sights and sounds that surrounded me during my time there: the vibrant festivals, the farms I passed on school runs with my children, the aroma of shisha drifting along winter sidewalks, groups of women in coffee bars, lively kitty parties, serene moonlit nights, and the shimmering turquoise and azure hues of the surrounding ocean.
At the centre of the bowl, the black-and-white checkered floor symbolises the underlying theme of the piece: joy. It represents a central courtyard where people of all ages come together to celebrate life, parents cradle their babies, ensuring that even the youngest are included in moments of happiness. This bowl is a reflection of the everyday beauty, warmth, and communal spirit that defined my life in Bahrain.
Awards & Participation
January 2020, 46th Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition Bowl titled 'Bahrain'
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​December 2019, Modern/ Contemporary - Exhibition at Art Chowk Gallery (Karachi, Pakistan) ​
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October 2019, Hidden in Plain Sight - Exhibition at Satrang Art Gallery, Serena Hotel (Islamabad, Pakistan)​
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December 2018, Earth to Form - Solo Exhibition at Art Chowk Gallery (Karachi, Pakistan)​
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January 2018, 44th Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition Euphoric Flutterings
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​January 2017, 43rd Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, 3rd place Sculptural vases titled 'Tolerance', 'Behind the Scenes', and 'Nurture and Nature'.
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November 2016, Al Riwaq Art Space, Bahrain Participated in their annual event 'The Nest'
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September 2015, Malja Bahrain - A Red Bull Space Participated in their Open Call Exhibition
