"Cockatoo Peach & Melon" Painting

Born in 1989 in the valley city of Quetta, Balochistan, I was raised in an environment deeply rooted
in literature and the arts. My father, an Associate Professor of English Literature and Language,
cultivated in us, his three sons, a profound appreciation for storytelling, poetry, and visual
expression. Evenings at home often turned into intimate discussions over tea, where literature and
painting became the center of our shared curiosity and imagination.
From an early age, I found myself drawn to visual art, particularly through replicating illustrations
from storybooks. With consistent practice, my skills steadily developed, leading me to actively
participate in art competitions throughout my school years.
After completing my intermediate education, I initially pursued Economics at a business university.
However, my passion for art remained unwavering. A turning point came when a selection team
from the prestigious National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, visited my city. I appeared for the art
test and secured a top position among all candidates. I later graduated from NCA with First Division
Honors, where my thesis work received significant appreciation.
Over the years, I have participated in numerous exhibitions, both independently and in tandem with
my elder brother. My work has been featured in group shows at national and international levels. A
significant milestone in my career has been my participation in the Art Renewal Center (ARC)
Salon, USA, one of the world’s largest and most competitive platforms for representational art.
Two of my paintings were selected as finalists in the 15th ARC Salon, competing against over 4,000
artworks from 83 countries. These works were published in the ARC Salon Catalogue, an important
archival record of contemporary representational art. I was also awarded an Honorable Mention in
the 16th ARC Salon, which featured more than 5,400 entries from 73 countries across six
continents.
Further elevating this recognition, my awarded work was curated for inclusion in the Lunar Codex
Project, an extraordinary initiative archiving selected artworks on the surface of the Moon as part of
a cultural time capsule. Another of my works from the 17th ARC Salon was also selected for
inclusion in an additional lunar archive, marking yet another milestone in my artistic journey.