Maha Ahmed: Where Worlds Meet

Maha Ahmed: Where Worlds Meet presents the artist’s first retrospective.  Influenced by traditional Persian and Mughal manuscripts and classical Japanese art, Ahmed creates fantastical, imaginary worlds which often relate to her own personal feelings.

Maha Ahmed (B. 1989, Pakistan) has lived and worked in Lahore, London, Tokyo and is currently based in Dubai. Her work explores questions around isolation and wonder and depicts characters - often mythical or hybrid creatures – which are in some way at odds with their surroundings, a feeling Maha experienced while working and living in Japan.

The exhibition includes An unfolding (2023) a special commissioned piece inspired by the rich interiors of Leighton House and the multicultural aesthetics of its collections, which resonate with Maha’s interest in different cultural traditions and art forms.

Watch the exhibition video

AR Gallery Experience

For the first time at Leighton House, visitors are invited to take part in an immersive AR (augmented reality) experience, with artworks coming to life through animation. Being the first contemporary show in the newly designed gallery of the museum’s modern wing, the space has been decorated with mini murals featuring Ahmed’s signature motifs and imaginary characters, hand-painted by the artist.

How does AR work?

Look out for the QR codes in the labels next to selected artworks (An unfolding and Silence your demons) and simply scan them with your smart phone in order to see and hear Ahmed’s creatures coming to life. We recommend connecting to RBKC-Guest Wi-Fi for a seamless experience.

"The museum is so excited to be working with Maha on this  exhibition. Her beautiful, sensitive paintings have such resonance with the interiors and history of Leighton House, we look forward to seeing these worlds meet in the exhibition" 

Hannah Lund, Curator for Exhibitions and Displays

Meet Maha Ahmed

Maha Ahmed (B. 1989, Pakistan) completed an MA in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins School of Art, London on the Caspian Art Foundation Scholarship (2015) and a BFA in Miniature Painting at the National College of Arts, Lahore (2012). Ahmed has lived and worked in Lahore, London, Tokyo and is currently based in Dubai. Drawing on feelings of isolation and wonder, Ahmed's intricate, otherwordly visions of fantastical creatures and distant worlds offer a poignant reflection on her personal feelings of unfamiliarity during a period of living and working in Tokyo. Ahmed dreams up imaginary worlds in which her characters - often mythical or hybrid creatures - are in some way at odds with their surroundings. She is represented by Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery.

"I am humbled to present my first retrospective exhibition in such a magnificent museum steeped in history and tradition. At 'Where Worlds Meet,' we aspire to emulate the passion and attention to detail upon which Leighton House was built." 

Plan your visit

Tavolozza Drawings Gallery

21 October 2023 to 3 March 2024

Wednesdays to Mondays, 10am to 5:30pm (last entry 4:30pm)

Free

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