Shiraaz Ali, from Bradford, is a visual artist and architect characterised by his distinctive design ideas. He writes:
My work process is rooted in a simple admiration for nature; from the cells that form our physical bodies to the sacred geometry guiding our solar system and universe. The intention through all my mediums of work is to capture fleeting, intangible and metaphysical moments and suspend them in time.
‘Serotonergic Gates’; design by Shiraaz Ali. Image: see artist’s website, below.
Shiraaz attended Bradford Grammar School and in 2017 gained the Henry Moore Fine Art Award for his artwork. After leaving school, he studied Architecture and Landscape at the University of Sheffield, graduating in 2020. He now runs his own business: Shiraaz Ali Designs, offering original art works, as well as architectural and mural design.
‘Spirit of the Amazon’. Image: see artist’s website, below.
A significant early commission for Shiraaz in 2021 was for the design of the Sandhurst Block art murals as part of the ‘greening’ and renovation of the Bordon town centre, in the Whitehill and Bordon district, near Petersfield, Hampshire (see image below).
Following an Open Call to artists, Shiraaz was chosen to design a mural for the former army buildings in Bordon town centre – part of the district’s plan to convert the buildings into a central shopping and leisure complex for the town.
Shiraaz’s winning design included a vertical garden on the central section of the block, sandwiched between two giant building wraps. His concept for the buildings also incorporated designs created and contributed by the residents of the town.
Shiraaz’s vertical garden and mural designs on the Sandhurst Block at Whitehill & Bordon Town Centre.
‘One Alhaya’, oil on canvas; example of original artwork by Shiraaz Ali.
In 2021 Shiraaz was selected, along with Harry Jelley, a local poet and writer, and Rosie Freeman from the Brick Box art collective, to be an Artists-in-Residence at Bradford City Hall. Together (see photo below) they explored the past and heritage of the 19th century building and encouraged the public to engage in and contribute to their work.
Harry Jelley worked with vegan chef, Sonia Sandhu, to create ‘Eating Hall City’: a multisensory experience, involving food and poetry, to celebrate the banqueting aspects of City Hall. Rosie Freeman created a sound piece: ‘Hearth’, which used field recordings, interviews and mythic tropes to explore the building. And Shiraaz designed a mosaic paving artwork that connected Centenary Square and City Hall, and which celebrated the diverse cultures of the city and district.
Artist Contact: Shiraaz Ali
