NAZEER SABREE
The Place of Storms

Now in the permanent collection
Philadelphia Museum of Art

We are honored to publicly share the good news that the Philadelphia Museum of Art has acquired Nazeer Sabree’s The Place of Storms (2023) from Paradigm Gallery + Studio. The work is a continuation of Sabree’s "False Face" series, featuring thoughtful portraits and collages celebrating collective identity and cultural archives. Through the series, Sabree has continued to explore the process of healing from trauma within a contemporary Black body. The Philadelphia Museum of Art began its partnership with the artist by featuring this now-acquired artwork as part of its Black History Month celebration. Their relationship will continue this October with a soon-to-be-announced project. Paradigm Gallery will release five new pieces from the artist’s “TRF-98” series in unison to celebrate this ongoing connection with the museum. These collaborations and this important acquisition show the museum’s commitment to fostering the careers of young, local artists of color in a city full of impressive, local talent.

The acquisition follows the artist’s sold-out solo show at Paradigm Gallery + Studio in April 2023 and comes ahead of his upcoming late 2025 solo exhibition with the gallery. Both exhibitions are in collaboration with Philadelphia curator Ginger Rudolph.

ABOUT NAZEER SABREE 

Nazeer Sabree, Born on March 9, 1998, is a contemporary visual artist from West Philadelphia. Nazeer's work is generally and most notably focused on depicting the dichotomy of everyday life in black culture. The themes explored in his works are individual and shared cultural experiences, identity, personal narratives, literature, philosophy, social constructs, mental health, belonging, and African American history.

Nazeer's concepts and material are motivated by his nomadic upbringing and experiences in Philadelphia. Using textiles, photographs, magazines, shell casings, and other everyday items in a nontraditional way to make connections to his environment. The complexity with which he depicts and discusses mental health is motivated by his lived experiences with depression and anxiety. Nazeer's work hopes to inspire and create an outlet and vulnerable space for viewers as much as it does for himself.

ABOUT PARADIGM GALLERY
Paradigm Gallery + Studio® was established in 2010 by co-founders and curators, Jason Chen and Sara McCorriston. The gallery exhibits meaningful, process-intense contemporary artwork by emerging and mid-career artists from around the world, with a focus on Philadelphia. In 2023, Paradigm moved locations and opened its new 5-story, 7,000 sq. ft. home, The Paradigm Arts Building, in Old City, Philadelphia. Open to the public, the building boasts multiple floors of exhibition space, integrated in-house design and printmaking, a dedicated events floor, and art advisory offices. With this, Chen and McCorriston expanded their vision for the greater Philadelphia arts community. The gallery is at the heart of this vision, anchoring Paradigm’s overall mission of increasing access to the commercial art world, supporting artists and advancing their careers, and collaborating with like-minded partners to build a more equitable, sustainable arts economy for all.

For all inquiries and press, please contact info@paradigm-gallery.com. 

If you are interested in the artist's upcoming release from his "TRF-98" Series, you may submit your request here.