Education
1997 MFA, Massachusetts College of Art; Boston, MA
1993 BFA, National College of Arts; Lahore, Pakistan
Solo Exhibitions
2020
‘Ambreen Butt: Say My Name’. Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco, CA
2019
Ambreen Butt: Wife and Son of Badr Mansoor’. From the series ‘Say My Name’, a site-specific window installation for Gallery Wendi Norris. San Francisco, CA
2018
‘Ambreen Butt: Mark My Words’ Curated by Orin Zahra at the National Museum for the Women in the Arts, Washington DC
2017
‘What is Left of Me’ exhibition of installations and drawings from the last ten years. Curated by Justine Ludwig at Dallas Contemporary, Dallas TX
‘I need a hero’ site specific installation for Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA
2016
Site specific Installation curated by Virgina shore and commissioned by the State Department’s Art In Embassies Program. USA Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan.
2015
‘I am all what is left of me’ Carroll and Sons, Boston MA
2013
Carroll and Sons presents Solo Project by Ambreen Butt at Pulse Art Fair, NY
2012
Beyond the ideas of rightness or wrongness, there is a field, I’ll meet you there. Carroll and Sons Art Gallery, Boston MA.
2010
Dirty Pretty and other stories, Jeffe-Friede Gallery at Hopkinton center for the arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH
2008
Dirty Pretty, Anna Kustera Gallery, New York, NY
Ambreen Butt: Prints, Carroll and Sons Inc. Boston, MA
2007
Cirque Du Monde, Bernard Toale Gallery, Boston, MA
I need a hero, Site Specific Installation, Flemming Museum University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
2006
Maud Morgan prize: Ambreen butt, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
2005
I Need a Hero, Kustera Tilton Gallery, New York, NY
Demons, Roberts & Tilton Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2003
What is past, or passing, or to come, Bernard Toale Gallery, Boston, MA
I must utter what comes to my lips, Worcester Art Museum; Worcester, MA
2002
Drawings by Ambreen Butt – Stephen L. Barstow Artist In Residence, University Art Gallery – Central Michigan University; Mount Pleasant, MI
2001
Ambreen Butt: Home and the World, Bernard Toale Gallery; Boston, MA
1999
Artist is an Allure of the closed; Invitational Site Specific Installation, Institute of Contemporary Art; Boston, MA
Bed of my own making; Bernard Toale Gallery; Boston, MA
1997
Ambreen Butt: New Paintings, Bernard Toale Gallery; Boston, MA
Group Exhibitions
2022
‘Say the dream was real and the wall imaginary’ Curated by Joseph R Wolin at Jane Lombard Gallery, New York, NY.
‘Three Fates | Ambreen Butt, Chitra Ganesh, Eva Schlegel’ Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco, California
2021
‘The Worlds we make: Selections from the ICA collection’, Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, Massachusetts. ‘Paper Chase: Ten Years of Collecting Prints, Drawings, and Photographs’ Curated by Elizabeth Mitchell at the Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, Stanford California.
‘Anila Quayyum Agha, Ambreen Butt, Simeen Farhat’, Curated by Benito Huerta for Gallery at UTA, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas.
2019
‘Site Lines: Artists Working in Texas’ Curated by Bridget Bray for Asia Society Texas Center, Houston, Texas
‘Rio Intermetentes Matanzas’ curated by Maria Magdalena Campos Pons for 13th Bienal de La Habana, Matanzas, Cuba
‘Can’t Lock Me up: Women resist Silence’. Turner Carroll Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
‘Between Spirit and Magic’, Curated by Jaishri Abichandani at Rossi and Rossi Art Gallery, Hong Kong
2018
‘One in Three: Global Perspectives on Violence Against Women’ Lunder Arts center, Roberts Gallery, Leslie
University, Cambridge MA
2017
‘Sherezade’s Gift’ curated by Jaishri Abichandani at the Center for Book Arts. New York. NY
Deep Cuts: Contemporary paper Cutting. Currier Museum of Art Manchester, NH
2016
I bear Witness: 12 Gates Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2015
Printer’s Proofs: 30 Years at Wingate Studio. Boston Univesity Art Galleries. Boston, MA
2013
Illuminated Geographies: Pakistani Miniaturist Practice in the Wake of the Global Turn
Tufts University Art Gallery, Medford MA
2012
Art on Paper 2012: The 42nd Exhibition: Weatherspook Art Museum. Greensboro NC
Lind Family Wing for Contemporary Art: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
2011
Realms of Intimacy: Miniaturist practice from Pakistan. Contemporary Art Center, Cincinnati, OH
ArtAdia Boston, San Francisco Institute of Art, San Francisco, CA
2010
Have I ever opposed you? New art from India and Pakistan, Faye Fleming and Partner, Geneva, Switzerland
2009
In Stitches Lelia Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery, New York, NY. Curated by Beth Rudin De Woody.
Out of Bounds: Art from the Collection of Driek and Michael Zirinsky. Whatcom Museum, Bellingham, WA.
Pretty Tough: Contemporary Story telling, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Curated by Monica Ramirez Montagut. Ridgefield CT.
Bazgasht- Traditional methods and modern practice: Revival of miniature painting from the sub continent: Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga, ON
2008
Portrait of a Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA
Distant Shores: Cultural Exchange in Contemporary Art, Curated by Deborah Disston. Mclninch Art Gallery, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH
Master Prints; Curated by Peter Wayne Lewis, Sunshine International Museum, Beijing, China
2007
Global Feminism; Davis Museum and Cultural center, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Global Feminisms Remix; Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Global Feminism; Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for feminist art, Brooklyn Museum. New York, NY
Home Coming; Pakistan National Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
2006
Banquet; Feast for the Senses, curated by Chip Tom, Asia Pacific Museum, Pasadena, CA
Holy Land: Diaspora and the Desert; Heard museum, Phoenix, AZ
Threads of Memory, curated by Margaret Mathews Berenson, Dorsky Gallery, Long Island City, NY
2005
Time’s Arrow: Twelve Random Thoughts on Beauty, The Rotunda Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
The Observed and Envisioned; Davis Museum, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 2004
Visualizing Diaspora: Constructing Self, Gallery Artists Studio Projects, Brookline, MA
Tale Spinning; The Drawing Center New York, NY
I Want to Take you Higher; McKenzie Fie Arts, New York, NY
For the Birds, Artspace, New Haven, CT
Playing with a loaded gun, Kunsthalle Fridericianum,Kassel, Germany
Masala Diversity & Democracy in South Asian Art, William Benton Museum of Art, University of Connecticut
2004
Visualizing Diaspora: Constructing Self, Gallery Artists Studio Projects, Brookline, MA
Tale Spinning; The Drawing Center New York, NY
I Want to Take you Higher; McKenzie Fie Arts, New York, NY
For the Birds, Artspace, New Haven, CT
Playing with a loaded gun, Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel, Germany
Masala Diversity & Democracy in South Asian Art, William Benton Museum of Art, University of Connecticut
2003
Playing with a loaded gun, Apex Art, New York, NY
Contemporary Miniatures: India/Pakistan, The Fine Art Resource, Berlin, Germany
2002
Get in Line, George Adams Gallery, New York, NY
Artists in Residence, McColl center for visual Art, Charlotte, NC
Painting in Boston: From 1950-2000, DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park; Lincoln, MA
India: Contemporary Responses, The Art Complex Museum; Duxbury, MA 2001
HOME? Crosscurrents in Contemporary South Asian/American Art, The Brush Art Gallery; Lowell, MA
Home and the World, India Center for Art and Culture; New York, NY
2000
Material Revelations: Variations on COLLAGE, Fuller Museum of Art; Brockton, MA
Palimpsest, Fuller Museum of Art; Brockton, MA
The Figure: Another Side of Modernism from 1950 to the Present, New house Center for Contemporary Art, Snug
Harbor Cultural Center; Staten Island, NY
2000 Annual Exhibition, DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park; Lincoln, MA
1999
Go Figure; Leroy Neiman Center for Prints and Drawings; Columbia University, NY
DNA Gallery; Province town, MA
Collectors Collect Contemporary 1990-1999, Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA
1998
Posing, Mills Gallery at Boston Center for the Arts; Boston, MA
Washington Arts Association; Washington Depot, CT
1997
Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, Bakalar Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art; Boston, MA
1996
Annual National Exhibition, National Art Gallery; Islamabad, Pakistan
Six Painters, Rohtas Gallery; Islamabad, Pakistan
Asar, Alhamra Art Gallery; Lahore, Pakistan
1995
Out of Pakistan, AMMARP Gallery; Boston, MA
Awards / Fellowships / Residencies
2013
Brother Thomas Fellow, The Boston Foundation, Boston MA
2010
Dartmouth College; Artist in Residence, Hanover NH
2009
Distinguished achievement as an artist, Massachusetts College of Art Alumni Association, Boston, MA
Artadia Boston, fund for Art and Dialogue, New York, NY.
2006
Maud Morgan Prize, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Joan Mitchell Foundation; New York, NY
2002
Central Michigan State University; Stephen L. Barstow Artist in Residence; Mt. Pleasant, MI
McColl Center for Visual Arts; Artist in Residence; Charlotte, NC
2001
Canada Council for the Arts; Ontario, Canada
1999
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum; Boston, MA; Artist in Residence
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; james and Audrey Foster Prize; Boston, MA
1998
Saint Botolph Club Foundation Grant for Painters; Boston, MA
1997 ART/ OMI; Artist in Residence; New York, NY
Edward Albee Foundation; Artist in Residence; New York, NY
Joan Mitchell Foundation award for Painters; New York, NY
1996
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship; Des Moines, IA
Collections
Various Private and Public Collections in Pakistan, USA and Europe including:
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD
National Museum for the Women in the Arts, Washington DCCincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH
Cantor Center for Visual Arts, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Library of Congress, Washington DC
Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Davis Museum, Wellesley College, Wellesley MA
Hoods Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH
Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA
Art OMI; Ghent, New York
Chief Minister’s House, North West Frontier Province; Pakistan
DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park; Lincoln, MA
Edward Albee Foundation; Montauk, New York
Worcester Art Museum; Worcester, MA
Wellington Management Company; Boston, MA
Bibliography
Hady Mawajdeh; Art & Seek, KERA public radio. Artist Spotlight: A Big Push to Re-Think Miniature Painting. Dallas TX Aug 17th 2017
Joseph R. Wolin; Glasstire. Ambreen Butt at Dallas Contemporary. June 24th 2017.
Beenish Ahmed; This Miniature Artist is Taking on Big Issues. OZY.Com April 16th 2017
William Batchelor; I Need a Hero, Museum Introduces a Female Heroine to the Gardner Museum. Boston Heights. Jan 25th 2017
Andrea Shea; Pakistani Artist Known for Miniature Paintings Goes Big. WBUR Public Radio. Boston Jan 12th 2017.
Cate Mquaid, Ambreen Butt Demonstrates Art of Diplomacy. The Boston Globe, April 28th 2015
Francine Koslow Miller; Ambreen Butt at Carroll and Sons. Art in America, April 2013
Cate Mquaid; Global Miniaturists. Boston Globe. Feb 26th 2013
Christopher Capozzola; Illuminated geographies: Pakistani Miniaturist Practice in the wake of global turn. Art New England. Jan 2013
Cate Mquaid; Cultural divides, blurred and explosive, in Ambreen Butt’s artwork. Boston Globe Dec 11th 2012
Greg Cook; Traditional Contemporary; Ambreen Butt. The Phoenix, Dec 3rd 2012
Christian Holland; Ambreen Butt at Carroll and Sons. Art New England, October 2012
Maria Seda-Reeder, Epic Miniatures: Contemporary Pakistani Miniaturist Techniques. AeQai, October 15th 2011.
Benjamin Genocchio; Amazing Stories: Emotionally Charged Narrative in Pictures. The NY Times , Sep 13th 2009.
Cate McQuaid; Politics and Nuance. The Boston Globe, Nov 5th, 2008
Carol Armstrong, Global Feminisms. Art Forum International, May 2007
Cate McQuaid, A pattern of Success. The Boston Globe. March 17th 2007
Ken Johnson, A dream like glimpse of the cosmic and mundane, The Boston Globe, November 30th, 2006
Atteqa Ali, New Platforms for Discussion, The Nations, September 25, 2006
Meera Rajagopalan, Miniature Artist Mixes Traditional Skills, modern ideas, India New England, May 15, 2006
Lilly Wei, Ambreen Butt: Kustera Tilton Gallery, Art news, October 2005
Atteqa Ali, Impassioned Voices: Art as Social Commentary in Pakistan, Art Asia Pacific, Fall 2005
Grace Glueck, Ambreen Butt: I Need a Hero, The New York Times, July 8, 2005
Judy Birke, A Fowl Menagerie, The New Haven Register, March 14, 2004
Benjamin Genocchio, Not Only Watching, Painting and Sculpting, Too, The New York Times, February 5, 2004
Serena Crivellaro, For the Birds not for the weak of heart, flighty, The Yale Herald, January 23, 2004
McQuaid, Cate, Miniature paintings convey great power, The Boston Globe October 17, 2003
Masood Haider, Miniature Galore, Dawn, September 27, 2003
Holland Cotter, Playing with a loaded gun, The New York Times September 12, 2003
Mark Pickering, Art Exhibit Talks War, Gender, Independence, India New England News, May 1, 2003
Cate McQuaid, A woman of Many Worlds, The Boston Globe April 11, 2003
Nancy Sheehan, Ambreen Butt: Finding a Voice Through Her Art, Worcester Telegram, March 23, 2003
Mary Sherman; Boston Herald, August 25, 2002; Small Worlds¹ show intricacies of India
Holland Cotter, The New York Times, August 23, 2002; Art Complex, Duxbury²
Cate Mcuaid, The Boston Globe, August 23, 2002; Small Paintings offer a big picture of India
Mellisa L. Grunow, Identity on Display, Central Michigan Life, April 10, 2002
Stephen Jermanok, Artists In Residence, Boston Magazine, February 2001
Brigid Watson, Exploring Identity: Artist Examines Tension Between East and West in New Series, South End News, November 25, 2001
Cate McQuaid, Painted Layers Reveal A Rich Self-Portrait, Boston Globe, November 10, 2001
Cate McQuaid, A Fusion of South Asian, American Cultures, Boston Globe, March 29, 2001
Martin DesMarais, Mass. Gallery Exhibits South Asian Artists, India New England News, March 2001
Mary Sampas, Brush Art Gallery Celebrates the Exotic Art of India, The Sun. February 27, 2001
Christine Temin, For the Love of Cod, The Boston Globe, September 14, 2000
Cate McQuaid, In Brockton: Embodiment of Change, The Boston Globe, June 28, 2000
Mary Sherman, Show Questions New York’s Dominance, Boston Herald, July 2, 2000
Cate McQuaid, Disparate Solo Shows Strong at DeCordova The Boston Globe, June 23, 2000
Denise Markonish, Defining a New Cultural Language, Art New England, June/July 2000
Karin Miller-Lewis, Recent Work by Artists of South Asian Descent in the USA, Art India, January 2000
Miles Unger, Bernard Toale Gallery/Boston — Ambreen Butt: Works on Paper, Art New England, August /September 1999
Cate McQuaid, Miniature Myths The Boston Globe, April 29, 1999
Gary Duehr, Global Art from Local Collections, The Boston Tab, April 13, 1999
Posing, The Boston Globe, December 31, 1998
Ann Wilson Lloyd, Ambreen Butt at Bernard Toale, Art in America, May 1998
Joanne Silver, Brush Strokes Free Painter from Her Constraints, Boston Herald, December 19, 1997
Catalogs
Translocal: Contemporary Miniaturist Practice Out of Pakistan. Published by Tufts University Art Gallery. 2013
Ambreen But, Artist in Residence. Published by Dartmouth College, Hanover NH
Ambreen Butt; Bernard Toale gallery, Boston, MA. 2007
Global Feminisms; Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY 2007
Holy Land: Diaspora and the Desert; Heard Museum, Phoenix AZ 2006
Observed and Envisioned; Davis Museum and cultural center, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 2005
Contemporary Miniatures from India/ Pakistan; Fine Art Resource Center, Berlin, Germany 2003
I Must Utter What comes to my lips; Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA 2003
Painting in Boston, from 1950-present; DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, 2002
Home And The World; India Center for Art and Culture; New York, NY 2001
HOME? Crosscurrents in Contemporary South Asian/American Art; Brush Art Gallery; Lowell, MA; 2001
The 2000 DeCordova Annual Exhibition; DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park; Lincoln, MA, 2000
The Figure: Another Side of Modernism; Snug Harbor Cultural Center; Staten Island, NY, 2000