Ilyas Kassam

Ilyas Kassam is a visual artist and poet with Indian and Ismaili roots. His art is inspired by Ismaili, Kufic, and Japanese calligraphy, and often explores the connection between language and mystical experiences. He is known for large textual paintings on rice paper and canvas.

Kassam is a self-taught artist who spent five years in deep meditation and self-reflection. In 2009, he visited the Kangra Valley in India, where he spent months meditating in the cave of Baba Sant Ram, an experience that sparked a period of intense artistic and philosophical exploration. His work has been influenced by mystical traditions from around the world ever since.

His creative process is spontaneous and involves the natural movements of his body, aiming to create spaces that feel like sacred rituals, reflecting the deep, evolving nature of his art-making process.

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