Two major solo exhibitions in the state of Ohio, conceived as a continuation and complement to her presentation at the Venice Biennale: From April to October 2024, visitors could visit the show Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior at Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel. From February 14, the subsequent exhibitions of the same name can be seen at the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Art Museum. Both museums will present the artist's most important themes and issues using around 40 exhibits each from the last 35 years. The shows are not organized chronologically, but conceptually according to focal points. The selection of exhibits was also based on the museums; in Cleveland, for example, it was influenced by the institution's renowned collection of South Asian art. In Cincinnati the exhibition ends on May 4, in Cleveland on June 8.
Pakistani artist Sikander (*1969), who has lived in the USA since 1993 and currently lives in New York City, works in a variety of artistic media, including painting, printmaking, animation, installation and performance. In the 1990s, Sikander became best known for her revolutionary approach to Central Asian miniature painting, now known as neo-miniature. Sikander's detailed works, which reveal her training as a miniature painter, deal with gender identities, racism and colonial history. Traditional motifs are combined with contemporary innovations to create unique works of art. In 2006, Sikander was awarded the coveted MacArthur Fellowship. Since 2017, Sikander has also been working as a sculptor, combining contemporary with traditional European and Indian forms of expression.
