Humaira Abid The Shape of War, 2025
Carved Wenge and Pine, photos, ink on paper, and wood desk
34 x 21 x 13.5 inches, each
Presented by Greg Kucera Gallery, Booth A09
The concept of THE SHAPE OF WAR is intended to explore the significant aftermath of conflict, particularly focusing on the profound loss of innocent young lives and their unfulfilled dreams. The text included with each sculpture is translated and transcribed stories of actual children living and dying in a time of war.
This collection of school desks is just a portion of a regular classroom. Instead of textbooks and pencils, the objects on the desk are prayer beads which have been placed on Rehal – referring to death and loss and prayers offered when someone passes away.
The carved flower placed on the prayer beads is inspired by the Primrose and Petunia blossoms. Primrose is often the first flower to bloom when spring starts and symbolizes youth and innocence, whereas Petunias symbolize hope.
Each desk has a drawer and provides information about a young child lost to war. Often only names and ages are published in the media, but these children are much more than that. They had dreams and were loved by many. The installation’s aim is to provide more information about them and pay tribute to their lives. The world has lost many beautiful humans who had so much potential and could have changed the world.
Artist Bio
Humaira Abid gathers the ordinary objects from everyday life and transforms them into something extraordinary. Her turned and carved wood sculpture and paintings—known for their exquisite detail—depict human relationships, societal repression, and the consequences of keeping basic truths from being discussed and shared. The beauty and seductive virtuosity of her work offset her political, ironic, provocative, and even scandalous objects and installations.
Humaira Abid was born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan where she received her BFA in sculpture and miniature painting from the National College of Arts, Lahore in 2000. Abid immigrated to the United States in 2008.
Abid had a solo museum exhibition, Searching For Home, at Bellevue Arts Museum in 2017-18, that traveled to the Center for Wood in Philadelphia, PA in 2020, to the Contemporary Craft organization in Pittsburgh, PA.
Her residency at Facebook resulted in the 2019 site specific installation of Folded Stories. Abid was awarded the Art Innovator Award by Artist Trust in 2019. She was awarded the Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
from the Seattle Art Museum in 2021. In 2022, her work was included in an international exhibition, Migration, at the Museo di Palazzo della Penna in Perugia, Italy. She lives and works in Seattle, WA.
The artist’s sculptures and installations are an inventive combination of carved wood and painting. She creates highly detailed works that explore politics, religion, taboos, and societal stereotypes.
Abid’s solo show, The Shape of Life, will be on view from July 3rd through August 28, 2025 at the Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle, WA