Mumbai Artist Khan Shamim Akhtar Draws on Personal History and Global Conflict

Working from a hilltop studio in Mumbra on the outskirts of Mumbai, artist Khan Shamim Akhtar has emerged as one of the few Indian artists to consistently create work addressing Gaza. Following the conclusion of his first solo exhibition, titled The Cenacle on the Sajjada, held in Mumbai at the end of 2024, Akhtar's creative output has drawn both critical acclaim and attention within the art community.

The past two years have brought multiple accolades for the artist, who holds a Master's in Fine Arts from the JJ School of Art. In 2024, Akhtar received the Artist Altaf Award followed three months later by the Takshila Fine Arts Scholarship. He was also selected as a curator for the Students’ Biennale at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and, in November, was awarded the South Asia Speaks Prize in recognition of his creativity and potential.

Akhtar’s artistic trajectory is deeply intertwined with his personal history. Born in Kurla in eastern Mumbai in 1994, he grew up with the family memory of displacement following communal violence that affected the area. His parents subsequently relocated to Mumbra to seek safety. Growing up with five siblings and facing financial constraints after his father transitioned from running a neighbourhood garage to scrap dealing, Akhtar experienced educational disruptions, including attending a madrassa from Class 5.

Diagnosed with dyslexia, Akhtar found that learning Urdu, taught by his mother Najma Khatoon, helped ease his academic difficulties. Art entered his life unexpectedly during a school lecture when an art teacher noticed a sketch on his desk and became his initial mentor, ultimately guiding him toward the JJ School of Art.

In his Mumbra studio, Akhtar utilizes unconventional materials, frequently working with korai, a reed-like grass traditionally woven into eco-friendly mats. While noting that Mumbra provides a secure environment for his practice, the artist describes the area as insular and neglected by municipal administration, offering limited intellectual stimulation but providing the physical workspace necessary for his large-scale creative projects.