I make art because it’s the language my heart learned before words. Growing up in Karachi and now living in Glasgow, I’ve carried many worlds inside me memories, contrasts, questions, and the constant negotiation of who I am becoming. Art gives me a way to hold all of that.

My inspiration comes from people and the quiet stories they carry. I’m drawn to the overlooked: small gestures, fragments of conversation, the texture of a street, the resilience in someone’s eyes. Photography lets me honour those moments. Poetry helps me translate what can’t be photographed the emotional echoes, the contradictions, the things felt but unseen.

I talk about identity because living between cultures has taught me that belonging is not a fixed place; it’s a journey. I talk about justice because I have witnessed inequality up close, and I believe art can disrupt silence. I talk about community because I know how powerful it is when people feel seen.

Ultimately, I make art to build bridges between Pakistan and Scotland, between struggle and hope, between individuals who might never have crossed paths. I want my work to start conversations, open hearts, and remind us that our stories matter.

The Unveiling of Syeda Sadaf Anwar’s ‘Mother Glasgow’ Painting

The unveiling of Syeda’s painting took place at Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts.

Gerard had the honour of presenting the painting to a very nervous Syeda, joined by her friends and family.

In the film, Gerard explains the painting within the painting and the role Syeda’s traditional dress plays in the portrait.