Parsons School of Design
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), New York | 2023-2025
Presidential Scholarship
Graduated with Honors
Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Karachi | 2019
Dean's List 2019
Two Person Show
2024 | What Threads Us Together, Parsons School of Design, New York
Group Exhibitions
2025 | Re-Turning, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery & Arnold and Sheila Aronson Gallery, New York
2024 | STAY: Round Trips to America from Asia, 25 East Gallery, New York
2023 | Displaced Landscape, 25 East Gallery, New York
2023 | Material Automatism, 25 East Gallery, New York
2023 | Cosmic Echoes: Constellations of Memory, Parsons School of Design, New York
2022 | Sculptor/Sculpture, Como Museum of Art, Lahore, Pakistan
2022 | Call for Art 2.0, Ambiance Hotel, Karachi, Pakistan
2020 | Qudrat ke Anaasar (Earth.Air.Water.Fire), T2F Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2020 | Collective Cohesion, Koel Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2020 | 16th Emerging Talent Exhibition, VM Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2020 | This is Me: Identity and Art in an Emerging Pakistan, Cleveland, Ohio
2019 | We the People We the Art, PNCA, Islamabad, Pakistan
2019 | Thesis Exhibition, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture Degree Show, Karachi, Pakistan
2024 | Nominee, The Dedalus Fellowship
2024 | Nominee, AICAD Post-Graduate Teaching Fellowship
2023-2025 | Presidential Scholarship, Parsons School of Design
2019 | Dean's List, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture
2019 | Nominee, 'We the Peoples, We the Arts 2019' Swiss Embassy
2025 | Featured in Hyperallergic Magazine: "Parsons Fine Arts MFA Students Help Us Navigate 2025"
2025 | Panelist, "Ephemerality as History" moderated by Chloe Ming
2022 | Critical review by Nayha Jehangir Khan, Youlin Magazine
2021 | Furmaan Ahmed Private Collection
2024 | Juror, Apex Art NYC Unsolicited Proposal Program
2026
Brand & Creative Lead at EWC Homes
At EWC Homes, a luxury hand-knotted rug brand celebrating craft and heritage, I lead across brand communications and social strategy, set and spatial design, and client relations across national and international markets.
2025
Teaching Assistant
Advanced Projects 3D, Faculty — Coral Saucedo Lomeli, Parsons School of Design
Guided undergraduate students through three-dimensional design fundamentals, facilitating discussions on formal concerns and conceptual development. Led critique sessions addressing both technical execution and theoretical frameworks. Offered artist references and critical readings to expand students' understanding of sculptural practices.
Research Assistant
Faculty — Soyoung Yoon, Head of Fine Arts Department, The New School
Provided operational support for the Fine Arts department, assisting with daily administrative tasks and studio coordination. Facilitated community engagement activities and maintained studio facilities to support departmental programming and student activities.
2024
Teaching Assistant
Core Studio 1: 3D, Faculty — Damien Vera, Parsons School of Design
Facilitated student critiques and provided technical guidance on three-dimensional fabrication methods. Supported undergraduate students in building conceptual rigor for sculptural work through one-on-one consultations. Introduced supplementary theoretical texts and contemporary artist practices to deepen critical engagement with studio projects.
Teaching Assistant
Core Studio 1: 3D, Faculty — Coral Saucedo Lomeli, Parsons School of Design
Conducted group critiques and individual meetings with undergraduate students exploring foundational sculptural processes. Assisted in bridging technical skill development with conceptual investigation. Provided feedback on material experimentation and helped students situate their practice within contemporary three-dimensional art discourse.
Research Assistant
Faculty — Mev Luna, Parsons School of Design
Conducted archival research on LGBTQ+ activists and cultural figures, including Pat Parker and Vito Russo. Compiled primary source materials, interviews, and historical documentation. Performed investigative research into contested historical events and gathered ephemera related to Houston's queer history and cultural spaces.
Research Assistant
Faculty — Lan Thao Lam, Parsons School of Design
Provided studio support through administrative coordination and facility management. Executed precise fabrication of darkroom curtains, including detailed cutting and construction to meet exacting light-blocking specifications. Performed technical textile work ensuring accurate measurements and proper installation for photographic studio infrastructure.
Research Assistant
Faculty — Andrea Geyer, Parsons School of Design
Executed detailed fabrication work for a promise of lightning, a series of quilted and embroidered multilayered silkscreens on paper. Performed hand-sewing techniques on paper substrates to integrate embroidered text into layered visual compositions. Assisted with material preparation and studio organization supporting the production of this multifaceted installation.
Textile Lab Assistant
Parsons School of Design
Troubleshot dyeing processes and provided technical support in the Dyeing and Weaving laboratory. Managed equipment maintenance, material inventory, and laboratory organization while assisting students with technical operations.
2021 — 2023
Freelance Producer
Major Brands & Production Companies, Pakistan
Served as executive producer for large-scale commercial campaigns with prominent Pakistani and multinational brands including major beverage, confectionery, and healthcare organizations. Oversaw project management from pre-production through post-production, managing budgets, vendor contracts, and resource allocation. Coordinated cross-functional teams including creative directors, camera crews, and talent. Conducted location scouting, permit acquisition, and logistical planning for complex multi-day shoots.
2020 — 2023
Freelance Art Director & Set Designer
Various Production Companies, Pakistan
Conceptualized and executed visual design for high-profile music videos, television series, and fashion shows. Led set design for nationally acclaimed music videos including Pasoori, Jhool, Peeche Hut, and Mahroonla, collectively garnering millions of views. Developed comprehensive visual concepts through mood boards and spatial planning. Coordinated with directors, cinematographers, and lighting teams to ensure cohesive aesthetic vision. Managed procurement and installation of props, materials, and set construction elements.
📧 Email: saiyedsumaiya22@gmail.com
📍 Location: Karachi, Pakistan
📞 Phone: +92 (332) 370-5408 | +1 (917) 290-3628
📸 Instagram: @sumaiyasaiyed