Pakistani art

Pakistani art (Urdu: پاکستانی فن) has a long tradition and history. It consists of a variety of art forms, including painting, sculpture, calligraphy, pottery, and textile arts such as woven silk. It shares features with Indian subcontinental art.^[1]

History

Painting

After independence in 1947, there were only two major art schools in Pakistan - the Mayo School of Art and the Department of Fine Arts at the Punjab University.^[2] Early pioneers of Pakistani art include Abdur Rahman Chughtai who painted with Mughal and Islamic styles,^[2] and Ahmed Parvez who was among the early modernists of Pakistan.^[3]

A prominent recent figure in Pakistani visual arts was the Karachi-based watercolourist Qudsia Azmat Nisar, who died in 2021. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, she educated and mentored thousands of students and emerging artists across the country.^[4]

Calligraphy

In the 1960s and 1970s, calligraphic styles emerged in Pakistan, with notable artists being Iqbal Geoffrey and Sadequain.^[2] The Karachi School of Art, the first art institution in Karachi, was founded in 1964 by Rabia Zuberi.^[5]

In 2017, in an effort to promote and preserve the art of calligraphy, the National Language Promotion Department (NLPD), under the patronage of the National History and Literary Heritage (NH&LH) Division, has established the first dedicated Calligraphy Wing within its premises. Additionally, the NH&LH Division had compiled a directory of 320 Pakistani calligraphers, documenting their profiles and contributions.^[6]

Graffiti

In the 21st century, graffiti started becoming popular in Pakistan, with the emergence of artists such as Sanki King,^[7][8] and Asim Butt. The latter also spearheaded Stuckism in Pakistan.^[9]

Art museums and galleries

Lahore Museum, Lahore

See also: List of museums in Pakistan

Major art galleries in Pakistan include the National Art Gallery in Islamabad.^[10] The Lahore Museum is known for its extensive collection of Buddhist art from the ancient Indo-Greek and Gandhara kingdoms, as well as from the Mughal, Sikh, and British empires.

Famous artists

See also: List of Pakistani artists

Here is a list of some of Pakistan's famous artists:

• Abdur Rahman Chughtai
• Sadequain
• Ahmed Parvez
• Ismail Gulgee
• Zahoor ul Akhlaq
• Jamil Naqsh
• Saira Wasim
• Shahzia Sikander
• Imran Qureshi
• Rashid Rana
• Hamra Abbas
• Warda Shabir
• Salima Hashmi
• Shakir Ali

See also

• List of Pakistani artists
• Pakistani Painters
• Art Museums & Galleries
• Truck art in South Asia
• Pakistani comics
• Indian art
• Asian art