In this talk, hybrid artist and curator Faisal Anwar reflects on his journey navigating cultures, geographies, and identities as an immigrant creative. Through stories and projects that merge art, technology, ecology, and community engagement, Anwar explores the challenges and possibilities of living “between worlds.” He will share insights from his journey and experiences navigating prestigious public art opportunities and cross-continent collaborations as part of his evolving artistic path. Anwar discusses how this in-between space informs his creative process and sense of belonging, revealing how public art and digital experiences can become acts of becoming, ways to bridge divides, imagine new futures, and reframe how we see ourselves and one another in an interconnected world.

About Faisal Anwar

Faisal Anwar (b. 1970) is an award-winning Pakistani-Canadian hybrid artist and curator who works at the intersection of art, design, data, and emerging technologies. His transdisciplinary work challenges conventional notions of space, time, urban environments, cultural identities, and human engagement in today's world. Anwar founded CultureLab, a studio that focuses on creating impactful experiences, investigating climate change, wellness, sustainability, emerging economies, and social impact by collaborating with scientific studies and research to engage diverse audiences through immersive installations, public interventions, and data-driven storytelling. Anwar served as the chief curator for the 2022 Karachi Biennial and co-founded ArtAddress, an artist-led collective that promotes creative contemporary discourse.  His work has been exhibited internationally at galleries, museums, and major festivals. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from the National College of Arts in Lahore and studied at the Canadian Film Centre's Habitat-LAB Interactive Art and Entertainment Program.