By Parveen Chopra, IANS
New York : Two works by Jamali, an acclaimed US-based artist of Pakistani origin, will be auctioned for an AIDS charity at a private dinner he is hosting at his Manhattan gallery Sep 27.
He will donate the proceeds from the auction to YouthAIDS, an international NGO working with the arts and pop culture to combat HIV/AIDS.
“My objective is to raise one quarter of a million dollars from the two works,” Jamali, who has been supporting many charities, told IANS.
One of the two abstract works is the fresco titled Serenity and the other is Sunrise, pigmentation on cork.
His co-host for the event with an exclusive guest list will be Sheila C. Johnson, an African-American billionaire philanthropist. Hollywood star Raquel Welch had to back out as co-host because of conflict in scheduling.
Jamali’s artistic style called Mystical Expressionism – blending contemporary consciousness with art’s ancient traditions – and charismatic persona have attracted a select circle of prestigious collectors including Raquel Welch, Oprah Winfrey, Elton John and Jack Welch.
Jamali has been painting for 25 years in several media and has innovated the techniques of fresco-tempera and pigmentation on cork.
Born in Peshawar as Faiz Aqdas Hussain Jahn Jamali Khalafzai, he grew up near the Khyber Pass, lived in the desert and other places before moving to the US.
He came in contact with Sufism early in his life and also acknowledges the influences of Buddhism and Hinduism on his art.
Now going by the name Jamali, the prolific artist runs two galleries for display and sale of his works in Florida besides the one in New York.