Features #10 Painting

Celebrating culture on canvas, by interweaving traditional South Asian fabrics, namely the ‘Dupatta’ (scarf) into contemporary realistic oil paintings that share stories to inspire, connect, and welcome insightful dialog with communities. Moving from London, UK to the US and finding a passion for creating is a story worth hearing and connecting over in person! Shabana’s parents emigrated from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, to the UK and raised a family in the suburbs of London. Her father worked in the steel industry. While her mother raised 5 kids, she used the skills she had been taught in Pakistan, and began her business of sewing traditional South Asian clothes for the community. In Central London Shabana achieved her degrees, a BSc in Business IT and a MSc in Information Management. She worked in the corporate world before her husband was presented with a work opportunity in the US. In 2008, Shabana moved from Central London UK, to the US, and settled in Fayetteville Arkansas. Through the frustrating immigration laws, and while being unable to legally work for 7 years, she finally discovered her love for creating. This journey opened up a new way to connect with people and it inspired her to create a body of work that explores the South Asian identity through the use of traditional fabrics. She now shares her story and culture on canvas with communities throughout the country. In 2017 she formally introduced her work and enjoyed her very first Exhibit, from there she kept going! Some of her notable exhibits include 21c Museum, a solo exhibit at Baker University in Kansas, and the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, AR. She has also been contracted by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Shabana attended the University of Arts London, St. Martin’s College in the UK. She was awarded the Arkansas ‘2023 Individual Artist Fellowship Award’. Shabana has been featured in a number of press releases which can be found on her website. Stay up to date with all the latest news and connect on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.