Ghulam Hyder Daudpota

Ghulam Hyder comes from the small town of Nasarpur in Sindh, Pakistan where the art of kashi kari ceramics has been practised for centuries.

Following the family path as a tile-maker, Ghulam Hyder was keen to prevent a lack of appreciation and patronage extinguish this exquisite traditional art form. The proliferation of cheap industrially-made products of poor quality in contemporary arts practice and in the restoration of historic buildings saddened him.

Awarded a full Jameel scholarship to study at the School, Ghulam Hyder also travelled and worked as an intern in countries where traditional ceramic arts are still practised.

Inspired by our MA study trip to the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain and by the kashi kari tile panels in the Jama Mosque in Nasapur, Pakistan, Ghulam Hyder constructed a tile fountain for his final year project.

He graduated with Distinction for his Master’s degree in 2010 and was awarded the Jerwood Art prize, by HRH the Prince of Wales.

Ghulum Hyder is now Founder and Chairman of NITA Crafts Development Co-operative Society in Nasarpur, Pakistan. He also regularly teaches traditional ceramic techniques at two of the School’s outreach centres - the VMCTA, in Karachi, Pakistan and the Icherisheher Centre for Traditional Arts in Baku, Azerbaijan.