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).

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Anwar Jalal Shemza, Reclining Forms, 1959

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Material Affinities and Tropical Dreams
25th October 2025 - 1st January 2026
Almeida & Dale, Brazil

We are delighted to share that work's from the Estate are included in the latest exhibition at Almeida & Dale in Brazil. Material Affinities and Tropical Dreams presents a previously unseen body of work in Brazil, bringing together artists of South Asian descent under the curatorship of Mario D’Souza, Director of Programming and Exhibitions at the Kochi Biennale Foundation, India.

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