About

MUSSARAT ARIF was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1972. She graduated from Karachi School of Arts in 1996 with a diploma in fine arts. She started exhibiting work the same year in Sadequain art gallery. Her work focuses on traditional South Asian identity through Islamic geometric symbols. Her work also encapsulates traditional clothing of Pakistan like ‘Ajrak’. She has exhibited her work in Pakistan, USA, Italy, Saudia Arabia, Hong Kong, Dubai, Qatar, Singapore, UK and Malaysia. She is one of the pioneers of the revival of calligraphic South Asian art in Pakistan with more than 40 shows under her name. Her work is also included in the public collection of Larson Art Gallery in Washington, D.C. and Pakistan National Council of Arts in Islamabad, Pakistan.
She is one of just a few women calligraphers of our time. She uses Kufi' form of calligraphy in her artworks. She creates calligraphic art governed by the principles of balance and proportion, rhythm and unity. She incorporates various patterns and geometric designs in her work which interwoven with the words of the Holy Quran emits a soul touching aura. 
The journey of self-discovery motivates her to the creative world of painting. She prefers Kufi calligraphy using various types of mediums, including oils, acrylics, watercolors, and pastels. Her recent work in calligraphy appears in square and circular shapes, highlighted by bright red, green, blue, ochre, and black. The arcs and loops, ovals and circles, vertical and horizontal lines are used as designs in her artworks. The basic geometrical forms remain the same in all works. Her use of the moon and 'Takhtee' symbolically for unknown and known realities of this world. She also uses new elements such as patterns of 'Ajrak' - a local symbol in her calligraphy.


CV

Education:
1996 Diploma in Fine Arts (Painting) from Karachi School of Arts
1992 B.Sc in Home Economics from Rana Liaquat Ali Government College for Women, Karachi.
Solo Shows
2019 Artciti Gallery Karachi.
2017 Artciti Gallery Karachi.
2012 Art scene Gallery Karachi.
2010 The Collectors Galleria, Lahore
2009 Art Scene Gallery, Karachi.
2005 V.M. Art Gallery, Karachi.
Group Shows
2021 Larson Art Gallery - Washington, DC
2021 The Love of Art - New York
2021 Hamd Group Show - Art Citi Gallery
2021 Group Show - Satrang Gallery
2015 4 men show - Chawkandi Art Gallery
2015 Group Show in Qatar
2014 Group Show in Jeddah
2013 Group Show in Italy
2013 Group Show in Malaysia
2012 Two man Show Ejaz Art Gallery
2012 Group Show in Jeddah
2012 Liberted Dreame International - Italy 
2012 Group Show in London
2012 Group Show in USA
2011 Pakistan Embassy UK
2011 Artistic Fusion from Pakistan (Singapore)
2011 Canvas Art Gallery Karachi
2010 Art Scene Gallery, Karachi
2010 Grandeur Art Gallery, Karachi
2010 Pakistan Artist's Show, Singapore
2010 Women's Day - Russian Consulate, Karachi
2010 PNCA, Islamabad
2009 Interior of UAE, Abu Dhabi
2009 Index Exhibition,  Dubai
2008 Group Show, Dubai.
2008 Art Source Gallery, Qatar.
2008 Woman Day Exhibition, Lahore.
2007 15 Senior Artist's, Clifton Art Gallery, Karachi.
2006 20 Pakistan Artists Show, Hong Kong
2006 Action for Earthquake Victims, Hunar Kada, Karachi.
2006 25 Senior Artist's, Clifton Art Gallery, Karachi. 
2006 Pakistan Artist's Show, Singapore.
2006 Islamic Centre London, UK.
2004 Unicorn Art Gallery, Karachi.
2004 Native Art Gallery, Lahore.
2004 V.M. Art Gallery, Karachi.
2003 Shakir Ali Museum, Lahore.
2002 The Art Gallery, Karachi.
2001 PNCA Islamabad.
2001 (Water Color) Show, Art Council, Karachi.
1997 PNCA, Islamabad.
1996 Shakir Ali Museum, Lahore.
1996 Sadequin Art Gallery, Karachi.
Public Collections
- Larson Art Gallery, Washington, D.C.  
- Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA), Islamabad, Pakistan
News and Publications
Art Citi Sacred Submission - Dawn News - 2020
Karachi Biennalle Trust - 2019 
Art Tv Pakistan - 2019
Citi-lite TV - 2019
Islamic Art Calligraphy - 2018 ​​​​​​​




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