Imagine That!

Alexander Gorlizki’s journey as an artist spans continents, centuries, and cultures. Born in London in 1967, Gorlizki studied Fine Art at Bristol Polytechnic, following which, he pursued an M.F.A in Sculpture at the Slade in London. Eventually, he migrated to New York, where he continues to live and work. Gorlizki’s early exposure to the world of art and design was thanks to his mother, who surrounded him with a rich tapestry of embroidery, jewellery, carpets, and handicrafts from Central Asia. This exposure eventually led him to the discovery of Indian miniatures, specifically from the Mughal school. What truly captivated him about these small sized wonders were the delicate forms and gem-like colours they contained. This eventually became his gateway to an alternative dreamscape.

Gorlizki’s approach to Indian miniatures is far from conventional. He focuses on reimagining static, formal photographs from colonial India. In 1996, he opened an atelier in Jaipur’s Old City with Riyaz Uddin, a master painter with a perfect command of a technique that goes back over 600 years. Together, they created their own visual language, seamlessly bridging the gaps between time and space, while simultaneously blending traditional artistry with contemporary influences. 

Riyaz Uddin is the Master Miniature Artist at the Pink City Studio, established in 1996 by Alexander Gorlizki in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Working alongside Gorlizki and Riyaz’s students and assistants, the Pink City Studio has evolved over the past 27 years into an association of artists dedicated to the 700 year old miniature tradition. While the materials, techniques and meticulous brushwork remain true to their origins, the new whimsical narratives, forms and patterns expand the boundaries to reflect a visual language spanning history, geography, and cultures. Within these works, different schools of miniature paintings coexist with classical western references, pop and cartoon imagery, often with a fluid transition between figuration and abstraction.