Samar Saleh | Rumi’s Autumn Table-Still Life

I am a seasoned Canadian Pakistani visual artist who explores identity, heritage, and belonging through painting. With a background in art history, I draw inspiration from European still life traditions, Canadian landscapes, and my cultural roots. I have a particular love for Ottoman art, often weaving its motifs into contemporary narratives. I enjoy painting still life and landscapes that capture memory and place, balancing detail with storytelling. My practice reflects the dialogue I see between tradition and modernity, and the spaces I navigate in between.

This painting is a celebration of Canadian Muslim identity through the language of still life. Inspired by the realism of European still life, I use rich, deep colors and careful composition to give everyday objects symbolic weight. The pomegranate — long a fruit of abundance and
faith — sits with cinnamon sticks, a blue topaz tasbih, and an Iznik-inspired border, echoing Ottoman art’s love of ornament and meaning. A single maple leaf anchors the work in Canada, where I was born and raised, reflecting layered belonging and diasporic identity. I often imagine Rumi’s table holding not just prayer beads or fruit, but also the poetry of simple things — reminders of faith, change, and belonging. With its autumn palette, this piece reflects both reflection and renewal, celebrating a heritage that is rooted in tradition yet alive in a Canadian context.