Saks Afridi
Born in 1975 in Peshawar, Pakistan, Saks Afridi is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York City.
Afridi’s work occupies a self-defined genre he calls “Sci-Fi Sufism”, a spiritual and speculative practice that explores the vast galaxies within the self. By fusing mysticism with narrative, his art visualizes the inner quest for meaning through a blend of Sufi poetry, South Asian folklore, Islamic mythology, science fiction, architecture, and calligraphy.
His practice also explores the condition of the “Insider Outsider”, a term he uses to describe the pursuit of belonging while being out of place. Through this lens, Afridi recontextualizes cultural and historical narratives in contemporary settings, reflecting on themes of displacement, dual identity, and transcultural joy.
Afridi’s process is deeply collaborative. Drawing from his background in advertising, he frequently works with painters, architects, artisans, fashion designers, 3D modellers, and fabricators to bring his visions to life. His interest in analog technologies, including vintage cars, often informs his sculptural work, where mechanical parts become poetic devices.
He studied advertising at the Academy of Art and sculpture at the Art Students League of New York. He speaks English, Urdu, Pashto, and conversational Arabic.
Afridi’s work has been recognized with multiple Cannes Lions, D&AD and One Show Pencils, and a United Nations Award for Peace & Understanding. His art has been featured in Artforum, The New York Times, BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, and even on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.