Nisar Ahmed, an Assistant Professor at Anant National University, is committed to learning new methods and skills, enhancing the student-mentor relationship and fostering productivity and growth for both parties. Embracing traditional and inventive approaches to teaching encourages him to explore new horizons and expand the scope of learning within the academic setting. He believes that hands-on practice with new materials provides in-depth and focused study, which often forms autonomous courses of extensive length. This methodology creates enough space for both the student and mentor to bring the project to more innovative developments.

Practical engagement and theoretical discourse are equally crucial for Nisar. The young generation of students concentrates on the core of the academic courses, and amidst these divisions, intangible ambivalence matters arise that require constant surveillance through pedagogical brainstorming and updates. He strives to prioritise the amended pedagogical implications.

Nisar completed Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Creative Sculpture and Visual Arts at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University Baroda. During his studies, he won Gujarat State Lalit Kala Akademy awards in student and artist categories. He also earned a postgraduate degree at the Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. He focused on the dedicated fine arts practice for two years of full-time study. After completing his Master’s, he worked as an independent practising artist with senior artists TV Santosh, Rachaita Creative Solution, Makarpura, GIDC and Vadodara. 

During his university studies and years of practice, Nisar was exposed to a rich culture of art professionals and pedagogical insights. In his previous role at the Site Art Space, Rachaita Creative Solutions, Makarpura GIDC, Vadodara, as a developer of products for “Curioshop”, which strived to provide functional and affordable artwork to the middle-class society. The making of artwork involves material handling and a purely conceptual thinking process. This transition between both factors simultaneously provided opportunities to research newer horizons. Artwork could be independent of any consumer empathetic approach, but the artist’s process of making, financial management, deadlines, concept to the materialistic construction of a project – these aspects Nisar finds a great bond between his students to navigate specific academic journey within. 

The diverse practice of painting, sculpture, printmaking and installation allows Nisar to adopt a multidisciplinary approach. In his teaching, Nisar encourages students to explore newer materials, mediums and methods, creating a pedagogical approach that breaks the rigid hierarchy of student and teacher. It also helps in creating a universal learning platform based on an exchange between mentors and students.

Besides academia, Nisar is an avid nature photographer. Since the Anant campus is home to a diverse range of winged visitors, he loves to capture stunning photographs of birds within the University grounds and surrounding areas.