Bio

Jala Wahid (*1988) works across sculpture, film, sound, and installation. Her practice explores the emotive potential of material and politics in relation to the legacy of empire and colonialism. Aesthetically alluring, sensual, and often delirious, her work establishes a counter-narrative to colonial rhetoric, bringing together contested histories and poetic expression. She examines the complexities of nationalism, history, iconography, and methods of archiving and existence.

Jala Wahid received her BA from Goldsmiths College, London in 2014 and completed her PgDip in Fine Art at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2019.

In fall 2026, Wahid will have a solo show at Dock 20 in Lustenau, and her work will be included in Soleil Noir at Villa Medici in Rome.

Selected solo exhibitions include: Pretend History, Niru Ratnam, London, I Love Ancient Baby, GAK, Bremen,  Conflagration, Tramway, Glasgow, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton; Metaphysical Reunification, SOPHIE TAPPEINER, Vienna, Mock Kings, Kunstverein Freiburg, Freiburg (2023); Conflagration, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Newcastle, AFTERMATH, Niru Ratnam Gallery, London (2022); Rock Fortress, CAS Batumi, Batumi, Cry Me a Waterfall, Two Queens, Leicester (2021); Rock Fortress E.A. Shared Space, Tbilisi (2020); Newroz, SOPHIE TAPPEINER, Vienna (2019).

Recently, her work has been included in group shows held at: Lafayette Anticipations, Paris, High Line Channel, New York (2025); Primary, Nottingham, Nottingham (2024), Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, University of Leeds, Stavanger Kunstmuseum, Stavanger, Boskamp-Stiftung, Hohenlockstedt (2023), Goldsmiths CCA, London (2022), CAPC Museum, Bordeaux (2020) SculptureCenter, New York, Arnolfini, Bristol, De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill (2019), Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham (2018).

Wahid co-edited SALT. Magazine from 2012-2019.

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