Today we’d like to introduce you to Hussain Jamil.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Sure. I started my journey in Lahore, where I studied Miniature Painting at the National College of Arts. That training gave me a strong foundation in detail, surface, and patience elements that still guide my practice today. After completing my MA in Art and Design Studies, I became more interested in how time, memory, and material transformations shape the stories we see on surfaces.
Over the years, my work slowly shifted from traditional painting into installation and sculptural pieces. When I moved to Dubai, my practice expanded even further the city’s scale, energy, and architectural rhythm pushed me to think beyond the canvas and create larger public works. Since then, I’ve created installations for spaces like One Za’abeel, One&Only, the Delano Hotel, and Dubai Hills, while continuing to show my work internationally.
My practice today sits between the past, present, and future always looking at how surfaces carry histories and imperfections, and how beauty can emerge from that dialogue. It has been a gradual, organic journey, shaped by curiosity, commitment, and a constant search for meaning through materials.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most artists, I faced many challenges along the way. In the beginning, the biggest struggle was simply trusting my own voice understanding what I wanted to say and allowing my work to naturally evolve beyond miniature painting into installation and sculptural practice.
Another challenge was resources. Large-scale work demands space, materials, and technical support, and early on that wasn’t always accessible. Moving to Dubai also came with its own set of obstacles adapting to a new environment, understanding a new art ecosystem, and rebuilding my network from the ground up.
There were moments of uncertainty, moments where projects fell through, or where the work demanded more than what I could physically or financially manage at the time. But each challenge pushed me to refine my process, learn new techniques, and trust the slow growth of my practice.
In the end, those struggles shaped my discipline and helped me develop a clearer direction one rooted in patience, resilience, and constant exploration.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work sits at the intersection of installation, sculpture, and painting. I’m drawn to surfaces how they hold memory, time, and traces of the past. My background in Miniature Painting trained me to look closely at detail and material, and that sensitivity has carried into my larger, more experimental works. Today, I explore ideas of imperfection, transformation, and the quiet beauty found in natural wear, often connected to the philosophy of Wabi-Sabi.
I’m known for creating textured, reflective, and often meditative surfaces that shift with light and perspective. Many of my installations respond directly to the architecture around them, allowing the work to feel alive and constantly changing. This has led to several large-scale commissions across Dubai, including One Za’abeel, One&Only, Delano Hotel, Sareo, and Dubai Hills. My work has also been exhibited internationally and is part of notable collections such as the HH Collection and the Burj Al Arab extension.
What I’m most proud of is the journey allowing my practice to evolve naturally from traditional miniature painting into contemporary installations, without losing the sensitivity and discipline of the original craft. What sets my work apart is this blend: the precision and intimacy of miniature painting combined with the scale and experimentation of contemporary installation. I’m always exploring how surfaces can tell stories, how materials can carry memory, and how the past, present, and future can coexist within a single piece.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is honesty in the work a sense of truth between the material, the process, and the story it carries. I believe that when a piece is created with sincerity, it holds an energy that people can feel, even without explanation.
I’m also deeply drawn to the idea of time. Surfaces change, materials evolve, and nothing stays perfect and that impermanence is meaningful to me. It reminds me that beauty isn’t always in the polished result, but in the layers, the marks, and the quiet imperfections that build over time.
Why does it matter?
Because it keeps my practice grounded. It allows me to stay connected to my roots, to my training, and to the values that shaped me as an artist. It reminds me that art doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful sometimes the most moving work comes from patience, observation, and accepting the natural rhythm of things.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hussainjamil.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hussainjamilstudio?igsh=OXdkZjlvcTRzbnNr&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Oblong contemporary gallery
