Shaan Syed’s approach to painting is one of decoding and re-contextualising visual signs and references drawn from European and American post-modern painting, married with those of his own background. Often drawing comparisons and similarities across histories, with particular attention to Islamic architecture, craft and ornament, Syed explores traditions and contemporary preoccupations which have historically been considered part of vastly different worlds. 

Shaan Syed was born in Toronto and now lives in London UK. He holds an MFA from Goldsmiths College (2007), and a diploma in Fine Arts from the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto (2000).  Recent solo exhibitions include “English Paintings” at Vardaxoglou, London (2024); “Les Rapports” at Bradley Ertaskiran, Montreal (2024); “Foliates at Sundy, London (2023) and “Partitions” at Galeria Nuno Centeno in Porto (2022).  Recent group exhibitions include John Moores Painting Prize 2025, “Unreal City”, Saatchi Gallery London (2025); “There Goes the Neighbourhood”, Indigo + Madder, London (2022); “When You Waked Up the Buffalo”, Nicodim LA (2020) and “Here”, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto (2018).  His work is included in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, Bank of America, UBS Art Collection and Goldsmiths Art Collection, among others.