Pakistan is causing ripples at Art Dubai 2025 with ten powerful artists. The fair, which ran from April 18 to 20, is among the largest platforms for South Asian artists globally. This year, Pakistan’s roster shines with bold styles, rich themes, and confident voices.
Spotlight on the Global South
Art Dubai does not shy away from experimentation. Its Contemporary section highlights art from Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. This year, the Pakistani artists have introduced a combination of tradition and innovation. They addressed identity, memory, politics, and spirituality in their own unique ways.
Rasheed Araeen: Bold, Geometric, Political
Karachi-born Rasheed Araeen is a trailblazer. Having migrated to London in the 1960s, he was soon making waves in radical circles of art. His geometric sculptures, bold and confrontational of colonial thought, are his greatest contribution. He’s also responsible for starting Black Phoenix, an art journal which advocated equal rights in art representation.
Miniature Painting, Revamped
Imran Qureshi and Safdar Ali Qureshi both learned miniature art, but they’ve developed it in different ways. Imran combines Mughal methods with motifs of violence and hope. His paintings feature dramatic site-specific works. Safdar has moved toward abstraction. His paintings employ dots, whirls, and gentle colour shifts to deal with memory. He currently teaches in Jamshoro.
Personal History Meets Art
Anwar Saeed gives personal and political narratives a life of their own. Working in Lahore, he employs mythology and sexuality to ponder identity. His paintings are close-up and daring.
Faiza Butt, whose work is pointillist in nature, also takes inspiration from miniature art. Her works touch on international politics, migration, and the media.
A Dreamlike Escape
Sana Arjumand depicts mystical, symbolic worlds. Born in Karachi, she populates her paintings with birds, light, and spiritual symbols. Her paintings reflect on fear, dreams, and the quiet moments of life. Her dreamy, layered approach resonates with people around the world.
These ten artists do not simply stand for Pakistan—they advance its image. They introduce distinctive tales and voices to one of the world’s largest art fairs. With heritage in one hand and daring ideas in the other, they prove that Pakistan’s art is forceful, contemporary, and irresistible.
Meet the Rest of the Artists
Welcome the remaining artists who are part of Pakistan’s delegation at Art Dubai 2025 — each with a unique contribution to the nation’s diverse artistic voice. Shehnaz Ismail, an early leader in design education, has devoted years to safeguarding indigenous embroidery and textile practices, placing them solidly in the context of modern art. Her dedication to advancing craft is echoed in the heritage of Syed Sadequain, whose legendary calligraphy and symbolic paintings continue to define South Asian and Islamic art. His participation in the fair is both tribute and testament to his lasting legacy.
Bringing a contemporary, experimental edge to the lineup is Shezad Dawood, whose multimedia work across VR, film, and digital media traverses identity and prospective futures.
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By contrast, Maha Ahmed provides a gentle, contemplative hand. Studied in miniature painting, her paintings are elegant, otherworldly explorations of loneliness and the subconscious, drawing the viewer into peaceful, dreamscapes. Together, these artists enlarge the range of Pakistani art — from heritage to cutting-edge — with strength, beauty, and imagination.
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