Matin Malikzada

A seventh-generation Afghan master of traditional pottery, Matin Malikzada is internationally recognized for his technical skill and elegant designs. A native of Istalif, Afghanistan, once a vibrant center of ceramic art and commerce, Matin was forced to flee Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. Along with his family, he is now resettled in Northwest Connecticut where he continues his journey as an artist.

In Kabul, Matin served as head of the Ceramics department at the Turquoise Mountain Institute, an NGO founded by King Charles, III, where in his youth he studied and honed the skills inherited from his father. Upon graduating, he was hired as a Master of Ceramics, and ultimately rose to lead the department.

Matin revitalized a nearly lost art of symmetrical design and turquoise glaze derived from natural pigments unique to Istalifi pottery and has trained over one hundred artisans in these ancient techniques. In addition to holding a bachelor’s degree in Law from Tabesh University in Kabul, he has earned Certificates in Design and Crafts from the City and Guilds Institute of London, been a visiting artist at the Institute of Ceramic Studies at Shigaraki, Japan, and authored books on Istalifi Pottery. Most recently, Matin was awarded an NEA Creative Partnership Grant from the NW CT Arts Council to support his teaching a series of master classes. Matin is also one of only two living artists to be invited to participate in an exhibition entitled Displacement, co-curated by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Mattatuck Museum scheduled for September, 2023. As a practicing artist for nearly twenty years, Matin has exhibited his work and demonstrated his skill to heads of state, dignitaries, artists, educators, as well as museum- and gallery-goers around the world, including: ABOUT THE ARTIST
Delhi, India (2004)
Islamabad, Pakistan (2004)
Bukhara, Uzbekistan (2005)
Shigaraki Ceramic Culture Park, Shigaraki, Japan (2006)
Japan International Museum, Tokyo, Japan (2005, 2008)
Islamic National Museum, Doha, Qatar (2013)
Leighton House, London, UK (2013)
Sharjah Art Foundation, United Arab Emirates (2015)
Smithsonian Institute, Sackler Gallery, Washington, DC (2016- 2017)
Buckingham Palace, London, UK (2018)
World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland (2018)
Judy Black Gardens Gallery, Washington, CT (2022)
Five Points Annex Gallery, Torrington, CT (2022)
Shangri-La Institute of Islamic Art and Culture, Honolulu, HI (2023)