Abul Hisham was born in Thrissur, Kerala in 1987. He currently lives and works in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

In his 2023 multi-piece work, the artist has drawn on a real-life political incident which he has transformed “into a broader reflection on marginalisation, belonging, and, the subtle structures that shape social division.”.

Hisham received his BFA (Painting) from the Government College of Fine Arts, Thrissur, Kerala and his MFA (Painting) from S.N. School of Arts, University of Hyderabad. In addition to being awarded the Inlaks Fine Arts Award in 2013, his awards include the Public Prize and De Scheffer Prize from the Dordrechts Museum, The Netherlands in 2024.

Concerns about religious conflicts and caste systems feature regularly throughout his work.  He speaks frequently of his native India, but often the inhabitants are from elsewhere. The exploration of shared histories, and of hierarchy and power, have been starting points for his artwork.

Art residencies include Rembrandt House Museum and Rijksakademie van Beeldente Kunsten (2021), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Skowhegan Artist Residency, Maine, USA (2019).

Hisham’s work has featured in a number of Indian and international exhibitions including INTERSECTIONS: Sites of Becoming, Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation, New Delhi (2026); For the Time Being, 6th Edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (2025); and Reality Check – 10 Years of MORE, 10 Years of Realism, Museum MORE, Gorssel, The Netherlands (2025).