About Anwar Jalal Shemza
​(1928-1985)

Anwar Jalal Shemza (born Simla 1928, died Stafford 1985), is a world-renowned British Pakistani painter. There has been greater recognition of his work since his death in 1985 beginning with the pioneering exhibition ‘The Other Story’ 1989, Hayward Gallery. Shemza’s painting ‘The Wall’ was chosen to illustrate the cover of the catalogue. His unique style developed through a painting practice which fused Western ideas of abstraction with Eastern influences such as Islamic architecture and calligraphy.

Selected public collections include: Tate, British Museum (UK), Metropolitan Museum, (USA), Guggenheim (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah Art Foundation, and M+ Museum, (Hong Kong).
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The Estate of Anwar Jalal Shemza is represented by Hales Gallery (London) and Jhaveri Contemporary (London, India).
Picture
Anwar Jalal Shemza, Eight Maroon Discs, 1963-1969

Latest News

Frieze London
15th-19th October 2025
Hales Gallery A24 & Jhaveri Contemporary B24

We are delighted to share that we will have work from the Estate on both the Hales Gallery and Jhaveri Contemporary booths at Frieze London this year. Find out more about which works are on show by following the links to our galleries below.

Works


"One circle, one square, one problem, one life is not enough to solve it” - Anwar Jalal Shemza, 1962
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​ © Estate of Anwar Jalal Shemza 2025