About the Artist:
Shaun Ilahi is an Omaha-based artist and world traveler. His artwork reveals the richly layered nature of reality and connections found between past/ present/ future, seemingly disparate geographies, the deeply personal and shared archetypes. Shaun utilizes a variety of media and techniques including photography, painting, sewing, writing, and projection to create nonlinear, narrative artworks that engage the viewer as a participant in making meaning.
Artist Statement:
I am an interdisciplinary artist and writer whose practice bridges visual storytelling, cultural history, and personal narrative. Working across painting, photography, sewing, writing, and projection, I create layered works that explore belonging, hybridity, and reclamation, often unfolding as palimpsests—stories within stories—where color, texture, and text combine to evoke memory and reflection. I earned a B.S. in Economics from Columbia University and a J.D. from Creighton University School of Law, and my career as a lawyer and nonprofit leader sharpened my skills in advocacy, community building, and systems-thinking, which continue to inform my art as I navigate questions of representation, voice, and the reclamation of stories. My creative work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions, with upcoming projects such as Reclamation Proclamation, a multi-room immersive exhibition combining layered paintings, projections, and sensory elements to examine the entanglement of past and present narratives, while my writing practice complements the visual work through a novel in progress that connects twelve characters across geographies and generations. Recognition for my work includes being a finalist for a major commission at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and an NPR feature on my career trajectory. Across both my professional and creative paths, I remain committed to creating reflective spaces where art and narrative invite audiences into dialogue across cultures, histories, and the universal spirit of humanity.
