Shaista Momin

Raja Changez is a poet and an artist international repute, hailing from Shakarparian, Islamabad, Pakistan. He received his MFA Degree in Creative writing and an MSc in Journalism both from Colombia University, New York, USA. In addition he also holds an honorary Doctorate in the Arts conferred on him by Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. He has also served as the Director General of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts. Raja Changez’s work encapsulates the interrelation of diverse forces with human beings, nature and the environment. His figurative paintings in a mist like revelation reflect his belief in the amorphousness of life where finite lines rarely exist. His Divided Self, series and Himalayan Odyssey is renowned worldwide.

S.M. Naqvi acquired his diploma in graphic designing from the Mashkoor Art School and was awarded the Quaid e Azam award. He has also studied art under the renowned Pakistani artist Iqbal Mehdi. Naqvi’s artworks demonstrate intensity of colors and bold strokes in abstract form. The artist aims to stir the inner soul and connects the viewer not just to the beauty of human experience in its existence but also what lies beyond the vision. In his artworks, he alters colors and forms to achieve total abstraction that bears no relation to anything recognizable. The outcome is an explosion of technique and color.

A.Q. Arif is a distinguished Pakistani artist who effortlessly blends historical monuments, Islamic and Mughal era architecture, nature, landscapes, and human figures into breathtaking artworks. His paintings encapsulate earthy tones in the shades of dusk, the night sky and moonlight. Arif’s work explores a world, which blends reality and fantasy in perfect harmony. The artist’s seamless transition from watercolors and ink on paper to oil on canvas highlights his exceptional talent.

Manto is a modern artist who uses horses, dervish and human figures as his subjects. The blend of thick and thin lines over his choice of subjects draws in the viewer’s attention. The large size of his canvases brings his ideas to reality. Farhan Manto is one of the top 5 upcoming artists from Pakistan.