Common Ground: Photographs by Fazal Sheikh, 1989-2013

Common Ground: Photographs by Fazal Sheikh, 1989-2013, is a survey of the nearly 25-year career of the critically acclaimed photographer Fazal Sheikh. Born and raised in New York City, the artist has focused on raising awareness of international human rights issues through his documentary-based photography practice.

The exhibition features more than 170 portraits and landscapes chronicling individuals living in displaced and marginalized communities around the world, many times as the result of war, exploitation, and poverty. Photographs in Common Ground span a period from 1989 to 2013, offering deeper insight into major world events, racial strife, and mass global displacement in places such as East Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and the Netherlands. Stories told through Sheikh’s pictures focus on survivors, orphans, and victims of violence and abuse.

Sheikh’s series of photographs have earned him numerous awards and fellowships, including a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, the Henri Cartier-Bresson International Grand Prize, and the Luce Humanitarian Award, among many others.

Fazal Sheikh, *Afghan girl born in exile, Pakistan*, 1998, from the series *The Victor Weeps*. © Fazal Sheikh

Fazal Sheikh, *Abshiro Aden Mohammed, Women's Leader, Somali Refugee Camp, Dagahaley, Kenya*, 2000, from the series *A Camel for the Son*. © Fazal Sheikh

Fazal Sheikh, *Alima Hassan Abdullai and her brother Mahmoud, Somali refugee camp, Mandera, Kenya*, 1993, from the series *A Camel for the Son*. © Fazal Sheikh

Fazal Sheikh, *Abdul Aziz holding a photograph of his brother Mula Abdul Hakim, Afghan refugee village Khairabad, North Pakistan*, 1997, from the series *The Victor Weeps*. © Fazal Sheikh

Fazal Sheikh, *Lukelatabaru’s (“one who was born to make war”) family, Rwandan refugee camp, Lumasi, Tanzania*, 1994, from the series *A Sense of Common Ground*. © Fazal Sheikh

Fazal Sheikh, *Abala Dasi ('Poor woman'), Vrindavan, India*, 2005, from the series *Moksha*. © Fazal Sheikh

Fazal Sheikh, *Neela Dey (“Sapphire”), Vrindavan, India*, 2005, from the series *Moshka*. © Fazal Sheikh

Fazal Sheikh, *Dr. Jan's son and friend, Afghan refugee village, Nasirbagh, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan*, 1997, from the series *The Victor Weeps*. © Fazal Sheikh

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Common Ground: Photographs by Fazal Sheikh, 1989-2013, is free for members.

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Common Ground: Photographs by Fazal Sheikh, 1989-2013, is organized by the Denver Art Museum in collaboration with the Portland Art Museum. It is presented with generous support from J.P. Watkins, Micheline Klagsbrun and Ken Grossinger, the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the citizens who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine, CBS4, Comcast Spotlight, and The Denver Post.