Jameel Haiat is a multidisciplinary artist and writer based in Chiang Mai, whose practice is shaped by a rich intercultural background. With over 25 years of experience in the themed entertainment industry, working on large-scale and highly interactive projects, his work explores a dynamic interplay of personal history, cultural identity, and storytelling—infused with both tenderness and tension. Guided by a philosophy of boldness and originality, he creates works that inspire and provoke, bringing a distinctive voice to his upcoming exhibition as part of Studio 88 Artist Residency’s Evolving Identities programme in May 2026.
Jameel Haiat grew up in Los Angeles as the son of two cultures. Born to a Pakistani father and a Mexican/American mother, he is a product of their angst, violence, love and attention. His life as an artist, writer, maker and designer has taken him to places far and abroad where he has absorbed other cultures, personal stories and perspectives that influence and shape his work today through a variety of different Series. Additionally, as a cancer survivor, he has been profoundly affected by this traumatic disease as well as his ongoing journey of recovery, reflecting in a deeply personal approach to his life and work.
He currently lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand with his loving wife and partner in everything, Hilcia and their sweet four-legged girl Tomi Yum, where he now focuses on his latest art, which is a series of mixed medium pieces, writing poetry, creative short stories and other fiction.
Artist Statement
“As I address personal issues of pain, trauma and violence, I question whether these emotional issues assist the artist in controlling his creation, or these emotional issues allow the creation to control the artist. My creation of each piece, through the act of tearing paper and cardboard, is both deconstructive and violent, while reassembling the torn elements is reconstructive and composed, which addresses these emotional issues not only in the final completed work but in the actual creation of the work as well. This process allows me to explore the impact of these issues and the associated emotions in not only myself, but also as they pertain to others whether through abuse, migration or war.”
Evolving Identities
Rather than adhere to conventional concepts of identity, such as gender, race, origin or religion, artist Jameel Haiat utilizes his very personal experiences of pain, violence and trauma, as well as joy, to identify himself through his paintings and mixed medium work. Made with a variety of materials including torn paper, cardboard, spray paint and watercolors, each piece whether his paintings, his “Black” series, or his “Chiang Mai, Change Me” series reflect his experiences via deconstructive and reconstructive processes in an abstract, yet tangible visual manner while inviting viewers to experience his emotional identity and journey.
More about Jameel Haiat in his Instagram and his website.
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