A Beautiful Despair (Blue), 2021, Anila Quayyum Agha, Pakistani-American, b. 1965, lacquered steel and halogen bulb, 60 x 60 x 60 inches, Courtesy of Sundaram Tagore Gallery, NYC, the artist, © Anila Quayyum Agha, photo: Steve Watson/Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, TX

Anila Quayyum Agha: Geometry of Light
August 27, 2025 – April 19, 2026
Seattle Asia Art Museum, South Gallery

The Seattle Asian Art Museum invites you to become part of its new installation, Anila Quayyum Agha: Geometry of Light, opening August 27. Agha, a Pakistani American artist, animates spaces with her large-scale sculptural installations. Suspended from the ceiling, Agha’s steel cubes are laser-cut with intricate designs that project geometric shadows onto the visitor. She draws on both the light and dark of her own life, using South Asian art practices to convey the gender discrimination she faced growing up as a young girl in Pakistan. An in-depth exploration of Islamic architecture, art, and identity, this is the first solo exhibition of a Pakistani American artist in SAM’s 90-year history. Agha is carving a name out for herself in the art world. Be sure to visit the Seattle Asian Art Museum for an immersive and illuminating experience!

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