Artist Info, Projects
Hamza Ashraf
hamzaasifashraf@gmail.com
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hamzaasifashraf@gmail.com
TikTok
*CV & Portfolio PDF’s can be provided on request
Hamza Ashraf is a Queer Pakistani artist, writer, and documentary storyteller based in Leeds, UK. Working across photography, poetry, moving image, and installation, his practice examines the intersections of shame, worship, intimacy, and queer identity through emotionally resonant and deeply personal storytelling.
Drawing from lived experience, Ashraf’s work often combines archival material, diaristic writing, and scripted re-enactments to explore themes of exile, desire, and self-performance. His process is rooted in excavation; unearthing the grief, tenderness, and contradiction that accompany visibility as a queer Muslim creative.
In 2022, Ashraf co-founded DNI Collective, a grassroots platform centring diasporic voices across the North of England. Since 2023, he has pursued an independent curatorial and publishing practice, including Of Faith & Fractures, a group exhibition foregrounding British Muslim artists of colour, and two self-published books: we’re just trying to learn how to love and We Fear No God, But Ourselves.
Ashraf’s work has been featured in publications including DAZED & Gay.it, and exhibited at Fotografia Europea, Village Books, and Offprint Projects at Tate Modern.
He is currently developing Deepstate, which is set to launch in 2026. Deepstate will be a publishing imprint dedicated to supporting Asian & African artists in the North of England through its print & digital magazine, commissioned/curated artist publications and activations.
Ashraf is also a studio holder at SERF, an artist-led project space in Leeds.
Drawing from lived experience, Ashraf’s work often combines archival material, diaristic writing, and scripted re-enactments to explore themes of exile, desire, and self-performance. His process is rooted in excavation; unearthing the grief, tenderness, and contradiction that accompany visibility as a queer Muslim creative.
In 2022, Ashraf co-founded DNI Collective, a grassroots platform centring diasporic voices across the North of England. Since 2023, he has pursued an independent curatorial and publishing practice, including Of Faith & Fractures, a group exhibition foregrounding British Muslim artists of colour, and two self-published books: we’re just trying to learn how to love and We Fear No God, But Ourselves.
Ashraf’s work has been featured in publications including DAZED & Gay.it, and exhibited at Fotografia Europea, Village Books, and Offprint Projects at Tate Modern.
He is currently developing Deepstate, which is set to launch in 2026. Deepstate will be a publishing imprint dedicated to supporting Asian & African artists in the North of England through its print & digital magazine, commissioned/curated artist publications and activations.
Ashraf is also a studio holder at SERF, an artist-led project space in Leeds.
Education
Leeds Arts University
(BA) Hons Filmmaking
2020-2023
Leeds Arts University
Foundation Diploma in Art & Design
2019-2020
(BA) Hons Filmmaking
2020-2023
Leeds Arts University
Foundation Diploma in Art & Design
2019-2020
Solo Shows
2025
We Fear No God, But Ourselves
Village Books
Leeds, UK
We Fear No God, But Ourselves
Village Books
Leeds, UK
Group Shows
2025
Militia
Stretford Mall
Manchester, UK
(Exhibiting Artist)
2025
Fotografia Europea Festival 2025
Reggio Emilia, Italy
(Exhibiting Artist)
2025
Of Faith & Fractures
SERF Gallery
Leeds, UK
(Curator & Exhibiting Artist)
2024
MSMSw/ UFC01
SERF Gallery
Leeds, UK
(Exhibiting Artist)
2024
An Extrosepctive Introspection
n/oM
Manchester, UK
(Exhibiting Artist)
Militia
Stretford Mall
Manchester, UK
(Exhibiting Artist)
2025
Fotografia Europea Festival 2025
Reggio Emilia, Italy
(Exhibiting Artist)
2025
Of Faith & Fractures
SERF Gallery
Leeds, UK
(Curator & Exhibiting Artist)
2024
MSMSw/ UFC01
SERF Gallery
Leeds, UK
(Exhibiting Artist)
2024
An Extrosepctive Introspection
n/oM
Manchester, UK
(Exhibiting Artist)
2024
Erotic Love (with AZUCAR Creative Space)
Light A Box
Leeds, UK
(Exhibiting Artist)
2024
Emerging Filmmakers: Screen Breakdowns
Good Shepherd Studios
London, UK
(Exhibiting Artist)
2023
In Our Defence: Re-framing Post-Colonial Grounds & Dilettantes (with DNI Collective)
Headrow House
Leeds, UK
(Co-Curator & Exhibiting Artist)
Erotic Love (with AZUCAR Creative Space)
Light A Box
Leeds, UK
(Exhibiting Artist)
2024
Emerging Filmmakers: Screen Breakdowns
Good Shepherd Studios
London, UK
(Exhibiting Artist)
2023
In Our Defence: Re-framing Post-Colonial Grounds & Dilettantes (with DNI Collective)
Headrow House
Leeds, UK
(Co-Curator & Exhibiting Artist)
2022
The Personal, Meta-Fictional & The Self-Referential (with DNI Collective)
Headrow House
Leeds, UK
(Co-Curator & Exhibiting Artist)
The Personal, Meta-Fictional & The Self-Referential (with DNI Collective)
Headrow House
Leeds, UK
(Co-Curator & Exhibiting Artist)
Press
Soanyway Magazine
by George Storm Fletcher
2025
‘An Equation’ (Print Feature)
Viewpoint Colour Magazine (Netherlands)
by Barbara Guarducci
2025
‘Come impariamo ad amare? Hamza Ashraf ce lo racconta nelle sue fotografie’
(How do we learn to love? Hamza Ashraf tells us about it in his photographs)
GAY.IT (Italy)
by Riccardo Conte
2025
‘OF FAITH & FRACTURES – HAMZA ASHRAF AND AYESHA ALI’S EXPLORATION OF FAITH, IDENTITY, AND THE RUPTURES THAT SHAPE US,
WURUUD (USA),
by Salma Djalal
2025
‘Facing fears – An experience through art’
TAKINGUPSPACE
by Maryam Saira Ali
2025
‘10 Photography projects that look at the world with love’
DAZED DIGITAL
by Zoe Whitfield
2024
‘These photos are an archive of intimate memories‘,
DAZED DIGITAL
by Marigold Warner
2024
(How do we learn to love? Hamza Ashraf tells us about it in his photographs)
GAY.IT (Italy)
by Riccardo Conte
2025
‘OF FAITH & FRACTURES – HAMZA ASHRAF AND AYESHA ALI’S EXPLORATION OF FAITH, IDENTITY, AND THE RUPTURES THAT SHAPE US,
WURUUD (USA),
by Salma Djalal
2025
‘Facing fears – An experience through art’
TAKINGUPSPACE
by Maryam Saira Ali
2025
‘10 Photography projects that look at the world with love’
DAZED DIGITAL
by Zoe Whitfield
2024
‘These photos are an archive of intimate memories‘,
DAZED DIGITAL
by Marigold Warner
2024
Residencies
SERF Gallery
Studio Holder
OCT 2024 - PRESENT
Dock Street Workshops (in partnership with Leeds Arts University’s Alumni Funded Studio Space Scheme)
Studio Holder
AUG 2023 - FEB 2024