Imani Bilal

Imani Bilal (b. 1983) is a contemporary abstract painter and poet based in Jersey City, New Jersey. Her work is deeply inspired by the many states of the human condition and is rooted in her spiritual (Islamic) practices. As she explains, “I strive to convey the notion of Tawheed (oneness), the idea of primordial matter, chaos, and calm; of all things sharing a source and being connected to an infinite mound, inclusive of the human experience."

Her language is versatile and her approach, unconventional, working with acrylic, ink, and resin to articulate emotion and promote connectivity through color and movement. Bilal, who has been experimenting with paint since childhood, has developed a unique process of her own. She often paints while seated on the floor to pour her whole body into the composition, using her hands, mouth, and found objects to create an array of effects that become part of an intricate yet fluid work of art.

Bilal's first solo show in New York City, Fingerprints of Ruh (2020), curated by Nemo Librizzi, was met with enthusiasm and led to gallery representation by Chase Contemporary Gallery in SoHo, NYC and East Hampton, NY. Inspired by the Islamic concept of “ruh” or breath/inner soul/spirit, it explored the idea of soulmates from an unorthodox perspective and featured lush palettes and undulant shapes against pure obsidian wash.

Dubbed "a force to be reckoned with in the contemporary art world" by Forbes Magazine, her work has captivated many. Bilal says abstraction is rebellious by nature and fuels her artistic freedom. She is among a small community of Black Muslim American women who push the avant-garde and has since created space of her own to exhibit the works of underrepresented emerging artists through her gallery.