Mansur Nurullah American, b. 1972

Mansur Nurullah (b. Chicago, 1972) is a San Francisco-based artist who - building on the legacies of African-American quilt makers - creates intricate, semi-abstract works that process and memorialize personal, familial, and community memories and histories. Something of emotional landscapes, these hanging, quilted sculptures are made from discarded clothing, scrapped furniture, fallen road signs, upholstery samples, and disassembled shoes and handbags.  Central to the works’ narratives are the artist’s experiences counseling formerly incarcerated youth.  These pieces map the interior and exterior landscapes that help Nurullah find his place in the world.  “The creation of these works is an opportunity to reflect upon problems and figure out solutions - which often appear as pathways - and are an opportunity for the discovery of new openings and possibilities.”

In addition to his art practice, Mansur Nurullah works with suspended and expelled youth as a counselor in the San Francisco public schools. He has been awarded residencies with Recology (San Francisco) and, through the San Francisco Arts Commission, the San Francisco Planning Department. Nurullah is an affiliate artist at Minnesota Street Projects. He lives and works in San Francisco.