Autobiography:

Nature inherently possesses a magical and inspiring characteristic which I discovered upon my relocation from Chicago to the breathtaking mountains and trees of Washington State and British Columbia, over a decade ago.

My name is Jalal Gilani. Am an artist and art educator. I studied electronic engineering in college, taught myself how to draw and paint as a child growing up in Karachi, Pakistan, but I never dared to publicize my passion for art because it was frowned upon. When I moved to Chicago in 1995, my wish was to get a degree in visual arts from the Art Institute of Chicago and become an artist by profession, but my career counselor advised to pursue engineering to better support a future family. The paints and brushes and tools could re-emerge as a hobby. I literally said goodbye to my fine arts dreams. I stopped going to museums and galleries and ended looking at paintings. I pretty much decided this was not for me. But the move to evergreen Washington State in 2000 and frequent visits to beautiful British Columbia brought back the inspiration and artistic spirit I’d left behind. I started attending art classes at a community college and joined the Oxford University Department for the Continuing Education where I studied Art History, Modern art, and Islamic Art and Architecture. In 2018, I completed my Master in Art Education at the Academy of Art University, San-Francisco.

Today, I have ten plus years of art teaching experience at community centers, Museums, and Schools. I am a registered art provider to special needs at Disability Determination Services of the Department of Social and Health Services of State of Washington. Also, affiliated with a local therapist and psychiatrists where I develop symptom-based art activity programs for special needs children.

My work has been displayed in twenty plus solo and group exhibitions in North America and South Asia. Being an artist and instructor, I always believe that there is an artist hidden inside each person - inspiration is the only gap between the hidden talent of an individual and creation.