Ammna Sheikh is a British Pakistani multidisciplinary artist whose practice explores the intersection of cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and contemporary technology. Working across painting, printmaking, textiles, and digital processes, she investigates how centuries of trade, migration and artistic exchange have shaped Pakistani visual culture. Through intricate pattern and ornament, Sheikh celebrates traditional forms of making while examining how these practices can be preserved, adapted and re-imagined within contemporary art.
Her painting Echoes of the Silk Road, draws upon the geometric language of Islamic architecture, particularly the decorated domes, Muqarnas ceilings, and Kashi tilework found throughout Pakistan. The kaleidoscopic composition evokes the experience of looking upwards into these architectural spaces, where repeating geometry creates a sense of infinity, contemplation, and spiritual transcendence. Rather than reproducing historical motifs directly, Sheikh reconstructs and layers them into a contemporary visual language that reflects the interconnected histories from which they emerged.
Central to the work is the influence of the Silk Road, the historic network of trade routes that connected China, Central Asia, Persia, and South Asia. Artistic ideas, materials, and techniques travelled alongside merchants and transformed visual culture across continents. One of the most significant exchanges was the introduction of Chinese blue and white porcelain, whose cobalt decoration influenced ceramic production throughout the Islamic world. The blue and white linear motifs woven throughout Sheikh’s painting acknowledge this shared history, tracing the movement of ideas across continents and demonstrating how artistic traditions evolve through dialogue rather than existing in isolation.
The composition of Sheikh’s work was reconfigured in multiple mediums starting with a painted piece, then digitally assembled into a kaleidoscopic image to then be hand painted into individual motifs in a symmetrical format. The painting took 149 hours to complete, reflecting the patience, precision, and dedication that underpin Sheikh’s practice. By combining meticulous hand painting with digital construction, she creates a dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary technology, questioning how cultural heritage can be preserved while embracing new methods of making.
Through Echoes of the Silk Road, Sheikh challenges singular narratives of cultural ownership by revealing the shared histories embedded within ornament. The work celebrates the enduring legacy of cross-cultural exchange, demonstrating that the patterns often associated with a single place or tradition are, in reality, the result of centuries of movement, adaptation, and collaboration. Ornament becomes more than decoration, it serves as a visual record of migration, connection, and the enduring exchange of ideas across cultures.
I am delighted to be exhibiting Echoes of the Silk Road at the Royal Scottish Academy. Returning to the RSA is particularly meaningful, as I was previously honoured to receive the RSA Patrons Award for my work in RSA New Contemporaries in 2024. Receiving this award had a significant impact on my practice, providing me with the support and confidence to continue developing my work at an important stage in my career. It gave me the freedom to invest in new materials, dedicate more time to research and experimentation, and continue exploring new ways of making art. The award reinforced my commitment to preserving and reinterpreting traditional Pakistani craft practices through contemporary methods, encouraging me to push my practice further. I am incredibly grateful for the support of the RSA, and it is a privilege to return with new work that reflects the growth of my practice and the ongoing development of my artistic research.
