Firi Rahman (b. 1990, Colombo) examines the relationship between human beings, animals and the urban environment through his practice. His works brought to life through his sombre and monochromatic style, are an intimate and sensitive engagement. Even in their minimalism, the dexterity of his skill and close engagement with the subject imbues it with a palpable quality — compelling an empathetic response from the viewer. He also engages in research and archival documentation, particularly through We Are From Here, a collective project co-founded by him. The initiative highlights the experiences of a deeply interconnected community in his home district of Colombo, while mapping the impact of gentrification driven by state and corporate interests that threaten their existence.
Rahman earned a Foundation in Art and Design (2012) from City and Guilds at Manchester College in the United Kingdom.
Rahman's work has been exhibited at Voices from an Archived Silence: Transoceanic Exchanges, IVS Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan, Rajiv Menon Contemporary, Los Angeles (2024); Shahnaz Gallery, London (2024); India Art Fair (2023 and 2024); To Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa Trust (2023); Dhaka Art Summit, Dhaka (2023); Colomboscope, Colombo (2016 and 2019); and Colombo Art Biennale, Colombo (2016). His works belong to private collections in Sri Lanka, Switzerland, India, the United Kingdom, and the USA. He was also selected for the Cité Internationales des Arts residency in France (2023).