nnailah.art
Drawings and paintings in ink, pastel and digital media, by an architect who can’t stop making art.
Sketchbook
Thoughts, inspiration and process, written down as they happen.
The first entries are on their way.
About
I’m Nishat Nailah, born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This bustling, emotional city has shaped the person I am still becoming. I have always been drawn to making things that mean something.
I practise architecture as my profession. Art is where I follow my curiosity, in ink and pastel and now in digital. Each in its own way stirs something in people about how they live.
I am a quiet observer of people and of myself. I notice how a feeling settles in the body, how light changes a room and how a single moment can change a day.
I am self-taught. Beyond the art classes every child takes at school, I never studied art. I came to it because nothing else let me speak, not words, writing or movement. Drawing became my language, the one I reached for when no other form of expression could hold what I felt.
Most of my work is self-portraiture, a way of capturing a moment, a mood or a version of myself. Some of it lives in black and white and some in colour.
Artist statement
Every work I make begins with an emotion I am living through: joy, grief, anger, restlessness, or something I don’t yet have a word for. Sometimes the starting point is a moment or an incident, something that happened around me and stayed. I don’t work at a distance from these feelings. I work from inside them and each piece carries a part of me.
That is why most of my work is self-portraiture. My own face and body are the most honest material I have for a state of being. I am not bound to a single style. I let each feeling find its own form and my practice is still an open exploration of who I am as an artist.
I don’t want a viewer to stand in front of a work and simply decide that it is happy, sad or angry. I want them to feel unsettled and a little uncertain, to keep looking. The meaning is not fixed. I hope different people find different things in the same image.
Most of all, I want people to feel something and to recognise a piece of their own life in what they see. For me, art is a way of living life more fully. I hope my work offers that to others.
Exhibitions
- January 2020Whiny WomenA show by the women artists’ group Women in Arts, Bangladesh, in which I took part.Dhaka Gallery, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- July 2019Mukhosh er Arale (Behind the Mask)Drik Gallery, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- March 2019International Women’s Day exhibitionEMK Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Questions
How do I buy a piece?
Tap “Message on WhatsApp” on any artwork or write to me directly. I’ll confirm that it’s available along with the delivery cost to your location. Once you’re happy you pay for the artwork in full and I arrange delivery.
How can I pay?
The artwork is paid for in full when you place your order. You can pay by bank transfer, bKash, cheque or cash deposit. I begin framing and arrange delivery once your payment is confirmed. Only the delivery charge is paid after the artwork arrives.
Is the artwork framed?
Yes. Every piece is sold framed and ready to hang. You can choose the frame in black aluminium or brass.
What does the framing look like?
Frame details
| Item | Material specification |
|---|---|
| 01. Frame | 1 mm solid sheet, folded, in black aluminium or brass |
| 02. Visible border | 4 mm |
| 03. Frame depth | 18–20 mm |
| 04. Surface finish | Brushed satin black aluminium or brass |
| 05. Front glazing | 2–3 mm UV-filtering, anti-reflective acrylic |
| 06. Spacer | 2 mm archival-quality spacer |
| 07. Artwork | Original on paper or archival pigment print, signed by the artist |
| 08. Edition | Originals are one of a kind, not reproduced |
| 09. Backing | 2 mm acid-free, lignin-free conservation board |
| 10. Rear closure | Removable backing panel |
| 11. Retaining clips | Black aluminium or brass swivel turn-button clips |
| 12. Wall mounting | Concealed stainless-steel keyhole hangers |
What is the difference between an original and a print?
An original is the one-of-a-kind work on paper. A print is an archival pigment print of a digital artwork or of an original that is no longer available. Every print is signed by me and any limited edition is noted on the artwork.
Does the artwork come with a certificate of authenticity?
Yes. Every artwork is delivered with a printed certificate of authenticity card.
How long does delivery take and what does it cost?
Delivery takes at least 2 weeks inside Dhaka and 3 to 4 weeks outside Dhaka. Delivery is charged separately and I’ll confirm the cost for your location before your order ships. The delivery charge is paid after your artwork arrives.
Can I return a piece?
I don’t offer returns so please ask me any questions before you decide. I’m happy to help.
What if my piece arrives damaged?
Every piece is packed with care. If yours arrives damaged please message me within 48 hours with photos of the artwork and the packaging. I’ll make it right.
Do you ship outside Bangladesh?
Not at the moment. I currently deliver within Bangladesh only. International enquiries are welcome, so please message me to talk about what is possible.
What are the process videos?
They are animations recreated from the finished digital artwork to show how it could come together. They are not screen recordings.
Do you take commissions?
At the moment I only sell finished pieces.
Still have a question? Message me and I’ll reply personally.
Write to the artist at nishatnailah.art.bd@gmail.com
Leave a note
Seen something that moved you? Share your thoughts about a piece or the site. With your permission your words may appear here.
Write to the artist at nishatnailah.art.bd@gmail.com
Writing from outside Bangladesh? International enquiries are welcome.