Artist Hassan Qureshi Finds Meaning in the Details
By Rachel Kengeter, deputy director at Short North Alliance
Hassan Qureshi is a visual artist out of Columbus whose diverse portfolio ranges from murals to wildlife to Arabic calligraphy. He is one of nine local emerging artists participating in the fifth iteration of the Short North Alliance’s Summer Spray on July 27.
Rachel: How did you get started in visual art? What do you remember about first being intrigued by it?
Hassan: Since childhood, I’ve always been driven to recreate the natural world in its beauty through drawing. This passion evolved into painting and eventually led me to murals. My subject matter continued to diversify as I explored different themes and cultures — exploring nature, people, causes and the human condition.
Rachel: Who has influenced you as an artist? What are some of your inspirations?
Hassan: I draw inspiration from the richness of nature, diverse cultures and the resilience of the human spirit. My fascination with wildlife often leads me to create allegorical narratives that explore themes of nature intertwined with the complexities of struggles faced by society.
Rachel: How has your work evolved over your career and why?
Hassan: Certainly, beyond my technical skill set development, my artwork now explores themes that carry dual meanings. Each piece is not only aesthetically pleasing but also imbued with purpose and story. Sometimes it’s obvious like in the written words of Arabic calligraphy, other times more subtle.
Rachel: How do you get started mural design and installation?
Hassan: Being efficient and making sure that my base is strong.
Rachel: What is something you would share with someone who is interested in getting involved in creating murals?
Hassan: Practice! Practice on large scale paintings, walls you have available, etc.
Rachel : What do you do to fill your creative bucket?
Hassan: Naturally, I scroll through Instagram and find inspiration from artists that I like. Apart from that, I also enjoy immersing myself in nature for inspiration.
Rachel: What are some of your favorite things about Columbus?
Hassan: I’m fascinated with the sheer volume of artistic and creative elements in Columbus — i.e., murals, festivals, exhibitions and so much more! And Columbus has great biking trails!
You can see Hassan in action as he paints his section of the Summer Spray mural wall on July 27, 2024 from 3-7 p.m. His work, and that of the other Summer Spray artists, will be viewable at a pop-up gallery located at 642C N. High St. Join us for the exhibit’s opening reception from 4-8 p.m. during the Short North Arts District’s Gallery Hop on July 6, 2024. See all of the Summer Spray 2024 artists here.
This article is part of a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council as part of the Art Makes Columbus campaign. Explore a calendar of events, public art database and artist stories at columbusmakesart.com. To learn more about GCAC grants visit gcac.org.