The ones that came before me- Sameer Qureshi (9 Jul- 12 Aug)
Artist Bio
Sameer Qureshi, better known as RESISTANT, is a multidisciplinary artist based in Tower Hamlets, East London. Best known for his nostalgic coloured pencil portraits, his practice explores memory, identity, family, and the moments that shape us. Drawing inspiration from his upbringing as a British Bangladeshi, he creates work that captures both personal and collective experiences, offering intimate glimpses into family life, youth culture, and the preservation of heritage.
Originally studying in Graphic Design, RESISTANT combines strong visual storytelling with a hands on approach to making. While portrait drawing remains at the centre of his practice, his work extends across a wide range of mediums including acrylic paint, graphite, biro, marker pen, crayons, and sculpture. Whether creating highly detailed coloured pencil drawings, hand painted custom denim pieces, expressive illustrations, or one of a kind home decor, his work is united by a sense of nostalgia, playfulness, and emotional connection.
Much of his work is rooted in observation and remembrance. Through carefully crafted imagery, he revisits memories, celebrates everyday life, and documents stories that might otherwise be overlooked. His aim is not only to preserve these moments, but to encourage viewers to reflect on their own experiences, relationships, and sense of belonging.
His work has been recognised by a number of notable figures, including Chris Brown, who wore one of his hand painted custom denim jeans during the European leg of the Under the Influence Tour in 2023. Collectors of his work also include Kel Mitchell, August Alsina, Mila J, DJ Target, and Sana Malix. His artistic journey has been featured on BBC Radio, where presenters Raffaella Coleman and Jasmine Dotiwalia invited him to discuss his decade-long career as an artist.
Through his practice, RESISTANT hopes to reconnect people with their sense of wonder, encouraging them to embrace the curiosity, imagination, and joy often associated with childhood and carry it with them through everyday life.
‘The Ones That Came Before Me’
About the Exhibition
‘The Ones That Came Before Me is a visual documentation of my family’s migration from Sylhet, Bangladesh, to Tower Hamlets, East London, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Using Faber Castell Polychromos coloured pencils, I carefully recreate photographs from our family albums by hand, transforming snapshots into detailed drawings that preserve moments from both my family’s history and the wider story of the Bengali community in East London.
My fascination with this project began long before I started drawing. Every few years, I would find myself returning to the family photo albums that my mum kept carefully stored away. Spread across more than a dozen albums, the photographs are often mixed together with no particular order, yet each image feels like a small window into another time. I was drawn to the colours, the lighting of disposable cameras, the shadows, the fashion, and the atmosphere captured within each frame. Whether it was traditional South Asian clothing or Western styles, family weddings or a simple meal shared together, the photographs seemed full of character, warmth, and life.
Presented in chronological order, the work invites viewers to move through my family’s journey as if turning the pages of a photo album. Alongside portraits, the drawings capture family gatherings, celebrations, and everyday moments that may seem ordinary at first glance but become increasingly meaningful over time. I am particularly interested in the details contained within these photographs: the fashion my family wore, the food that appears on tables and in the background, the interiors of homes, and the ways people chose to present themselves in front of the camera. These details offer small but significant insights into a particular time, place, and culture.
While the project is rooted in my own family’s experiences, it also reflects wider themes of migration, community, and belonging. Drawing from these photographs allows me to spend time with histories that existed before me and reconnect with stories passed down through generations. Through this process, I hope to preserve elements of my Bengali heritage, celebrate the lives of my relatives, and pay homage to the people whose journeys and sacrifices have shaped my own identity.
More than anything, I want to share the sense of joy and curiosity I feel when looking through these albums. In a world where images are constantly consumed and quickly forgotten, these drawings encourage viewers to pause, reflect, and spend time with moments that might otherwise be overlooked. Ultimately, The Ones That Came Before Me is both a personal archive and a tribute to family, memory, and culture.’