Pakistani art

Pakistani art ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|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.{{Cite book|last=Wille|first=Simone|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eR7gCgAAQBAJ|title=Modern Art in Pakistan: History, Tradition, Place|date=2017-09-19|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-34136-9|language=en}}

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.{{Cite web|last=Dadi|first=Iftikhar|date=2017-09-14|title=A brief history of Pakistani art and the people who shaped it|url=https://scroll.in/magazine/850531/a-brief-history-of-pakistani-art-and-the-people-who-shaped-it|access-date=2021-06-16|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}} Early pioneers of Pakistani art include Abdur Rahman Chughtai who painted with Mughal and Islamic styles, and Ahmed Parvez who was among the early modernists of Pakistan.{{Cite web|last=Ali|first=Salwat|date=2013-09-15|title=Homage: Remembering the maestro|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1042990|access-date=2021-06-16|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}}

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.{{cite news |date=4 May 2021 |title=Qudsia Azmat Nisar — Pakistan’s foremost watercolour painter and an educator to thousands of artists |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1187206/qudsia-azmat-nisar-pakistans-foremost-watercolour-painter-and-an-educator-to-thousands-of-artists |access-date=15 June 2025 |work=Dawn Images}}

= Calligraphy =

In the 1960s and 1970s, calligraphic styles emerged in Pakistan, with notable artists being Iqbal Geoffrey and Sadequain. The Karachi School of Art, the first art institution in Karachi, was founded in 1964 by Rabia Zuberi.{{Cite book|last=Hashmi|first=Salima|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WsifAAAAMAAJ|title=Unveiling the Visible: Lives and Works of Women Artists of Pakistan|date=2002|publisher=ActionAid Pakistan|isbn=978-969-35-1361-5|language=en}}

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.{{cite news |date=7 December 2017 |title=Art: NLPD inaugurates first-ever Calligraphy Wing |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1577932/art-nlpd-inaugurates-first-ever-calligraphy-wing |access-date=15 June 2025 |work=The Express Tribune}}

= Graffiti =

In the 21st century, graffiti started becoming popular in Pakistan, with the emergence of artists such as Sanki King,{{Cite web|last=Asif|first=Ramsha|date=2021-04-08|title=Karachi walls deserve better: Graffiti artists chime in|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2293752/karachi-walls-deserve-better-graffiti-artists-chime-in|access-date=2021-06-16|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Chagani|first=Anum Rehman|date=2019-06-26|title=Meet the graffiti artist taking Karachi by storm|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1183069|access-date=2021-06-16|website=Images|language=en}} and Asim Butt. The latter also spearheaded Stuckism in Pakistan.{{Cite web|date=2014-04-05|title=Asim Butt — the: 'Rebel Angel' comes back to life through his work|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/691921/asim-butt-the-rebel-angel-comes-back-to-life-through-his-work|access-date=2021-06-18|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}

Art museums and galleries

File:Lahore_Museum,_Lahore.jpg, Lahore|172x172px]]

Major art galleries in Pakistan include the National Art Gallery in Islamabad.{{Cite web|date=2017-09-14|title=PNCA lacks funds to maintain art gallery|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1506643/pnca-lacks-funds-maintain-art-gallery|access-date=2021-06-18|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}} 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

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

References

Art

Category:Art by country

Category:Pakistani art