BIOGRAPHY
Aadila Munshi is a contemporary artist living and working in Toronto, Canada. She is known for her paintings of beautifully distressed urban surfaces.
In her work, gritty surfaces are uniquely juxtaposed with signature marks and elegant calligraffiti forms.
A former Criminologist at the University of Cape Town, Aadila grew up in South Africa during the apartheid regime. Her abstract expressions represent her perception of the push and pull between struggle, hope and the ability to rise above.
She has been painting for over 25 years. Her work has been sold in North America, Australia, U.K. and South Africa.
She recently completed a large-scale corporate commission for The Daniels Corporation of two over-sized pieces, measuring 14ftx8ft each. The artwork is permanently installed in the lobby of The Lighthouse East Tower, Toronto.
Read her Artist Statement below.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I experienced apartheid, its demise, and the first ever free and fair election in South Africa, electing Nelson Mandela as the President. I had the rare privilege to often meet the President and his contemporaries, most notably his Minister of Justice, Dullah Omar, in whose home I was welcomed as family. These legendary giants of the freedom struggle served as my mentors for years, and strongly shaped my views on strength, tolerance, freedom, and humanity. My experience in the South African socio-political scene was deepened by my work as a Criminologist at the University of Cape Town.
My paintings are meaningful, evocative, and ultimately inspired by our human condition.
I paint intuitively and passionately to express myself, allowing deeply felt experiences and impressions to drive each piece to the finish. — Aadila.