Tazeen Qayyum: In the Shadows

Now Showing at Richmond Hill Public Library

Tazeen Qayyum
In the Shadows

On view until June 1, 2025
Central Branch, Glass Case Gallery

In the Shadows by Oakville-based artist Tazeen Qayyum examines themes of displacement, resilience, and the human cost of conflict. The cockroach, often seen with repulsion, is a recurring motif in Qayyum’s work, serving as a powerful symbol of survival and resistance. Through site-specific installations, sculptures, and intricate patterns covering vast surfaces, her art reflects on the value of human life in a world marked by war, discrimination, and political intolerance. In the Shadows invites viewers to consider the traumatic aftermath of violence and the necessity of care, understanding, and collective healing.

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About the Artist:

Tazeen Qayyum is a Pakistani Canadian multidisciplinary artist whose work spans drawing, sculpture, installation, and performance. Her art explores themes of belonging, displacement, and identity, and has been exhibited internationally.

We connected with Tazeen to explore the symbolism of the cockroach in In the Shadows. Watch artist interview.

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