Meet Nabi Haider Ali | Illustrator, Character Designer, and Concept Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nabi Haider Ali and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nabi, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember, yet, I didn’t think it was an avenue I could explore professionally. I studied international relations for a year at UCD, but doing anything besides drawing felt excruciating. I knew at that point that I only wanted to create art for the rest of my life. I then transferred to LCAD, and the rest is history.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Most of my personal art revolves around South Asian aesthetics, namely in religion, spirituality, and the supernatural. Post-partition South Asia is often binarized into Hindu vs. Muslim, but there is a lot of wild intermingling that happens among the masses that isn’t known to the outside world. I try my best to represent at least a little of that in what I create, whether it’s paintings of Shi’i martyrs posed as Tamil folk heroes, or Velankanni (Our Lady of Good Health) wearing a vibrant saree over her deep complexion. Of course, there are people who get offended, but I’ve learned to listen to the positive voices around me instead.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First, we’d hang out over some piping hot adeni chai and mango cheesecake at Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. at Culver. Then, we’d take a stroll along Santa Monica Pier, maybe even go for a swim. On a day where it’s not so sunny, there’s a secret spot behind the Sepulveda Dam that’s perfect for skateboarding (or longboarding, like I like to do). It’s a bit of a walk, but that’s just a great way to get some steps in!

Some of my favorite places to do a catch-all of some cool sights, shopping, and a bite to eat include Little India in Artesia as well as Little Tokyo. For a more relaxing day, we can just visit the Hmart plaza close to where I live in Ktown, complete with a Daiso and Somi-Somi. Closer to the evening, we’ll check out the art scene over at Q Pop Shop or Gallery Nucleus.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe so much to my wife, who has been my best friend since I started art school and continued to stand with me through thick and thin. Even working from home feels like a fun hangout because she’s right here working alongside me.

Website: https://nabihaiderali.myportfolio.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nabihaiderali/

Other: https://nabihaider.com