Risham Syed has a diverse art practice in which painting and other mediums are used to explore issues of history, sociology, and politics. Living in a major metropolis like Lahore, she has experienced a momentous "urban transition" that has become very tangible in recent years. Her hometown plays a central role in her work, as does research related to the meaning of colonial history. She explores these issues by locating her work in a larger, often global, context and brings into play objects, borders, margins, and frames with political and social references. Sayed’s use of fabric, embroidery, and found objects, as well as her paintings speak to her connection of personal life and history to understand the present.