I am a self taught artist, hailing from Pakistan. I specialize in weaving stories with a palette of diverse mediums: the lustrous embrace of oil paints, the enigmatic strokes of charcoal, and the opulent allure of gold foil gilding. My artistic forte lies in crafting grandiose masterpieces, whose themes and sheer magnitude ensnare the beholder's imagination.My primal source of inspiration is a harmonious duet between the rich heritage of Urdu poetry and the celestial strains of spiritual melodies which I translate into a symphony of visual artistry. In its essence, my art unveils the parchment of my spiritual voyage, beckoning viewers to commence their own quest for inner enlightenment. Each stroke, each shade, and each form offers a passage into the profound and invites contemplation on the enigma of existence.

Honour / Iftikhar"Iftikhar" is an urdu word derived from Arabic which literally means "pride" or "honour". Pride personified, is an attribute that stands alone. It exudes authority. It does not feel the need to conform. It can only give and can never be shackled by any want. The subject in this picture exudes a certain lion like pride. His turban, brightly coloured and loosely tied, his beard, unkempt and free, both of them dressing his dented, burnt and battle hardened face up like a lion's mane. The loose and free styled, yet brightly coloured turban establishes freedom from all customs, freedom from norms, freedom from any and all the necessities to conform which thereby resolutely establish his authority, like that of a lion in a jungle. He showcases a certain aloofness, a certain freedom from want. An aura of kingship, whereby he can only give and not want. Free from any fear or dependency. Pure pride, pure honour, pure "Iftikhar"Original Size: 90cm x 120cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: SoldPrice: Inquire

BasantBasant is a spring festival in Indian subcontinent which celebrates arrival of the new season. The colour yellow has come to signify the event. This painting celebrates Basant with the subject adorning the yellow turban.Original Size: 90cm x 120cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: SoldPrice: Inquire

Hansi Khanakti Hui (Clinking Laughter)Hansi Khanakti Hui shows an old man radiating an infectious smile. The serene smile coupled with vibrant red turban, contrasted by a face etched with years of experience showcases a life of wisdom and contentment, celebrating the quiet triumph of inner joy. It’s a vivid reminder of the beauty in simple, heartfelt happiness.Original Size: 90cm x 120cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire

Neeli Dhoop (Blue Sunlight)This painting, titled "Neeli Dhoop," captures a profound sense of melancholy etched into the face of an elder, his gaze heavy with unspoken stories. The deep blue of his turban mirrors the cool, muted blue sunlight light "neeli dhoop"—that unusual time of day when shadows stretch long, and the world feels wrapped in a quiet sadness. His expression holds the weight of years, perhaps reflecting loss, resilience, and memories softened by time.
"Neeli Dhoop" becomes a symbol of life’s fading light, where moments of brightness are tinged with sorrow. The painting invites viewers to look beyond the surface, to recognize the beauty in weariness, and to honor the depth of emotions that lie hidden behind a stoic gaze.Original Size: 90cm x 76cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire

Ghalib Kaun (Ghalib Who)ThIs painting is a first in the series of two paintings with the second one titled "Hum Batlain Kya (What should I say)". Both of the works are based on the famous couplet of Ghalib:
"Poochtay Hain woh kay Ghalib Kaun Hai
Koi Batlao Kay Hum Batlain Kya""They ask who is Ghalib (which literally means Dominant)
Can someone tell me what should I say"Ghalib very artfully plays with his name and it's meaning to create a multi layered couplet which embodies not only mischief but also a subtle disdian for everyone else besides him.The subject in this painting radiates a sense of joyful disbelief. The expression of the character mocks the questioner in disbelief that they don't even know who Ghalib (Dominant/Also the name of the poet) is!The question is then playfully answered in the second painting where the subject shows disdain for the questioner saying Hum Batlain Kya!Original Size: 90cm x 60cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire

Hum Batlain Kya (What should I say)The subject in the painting is captured with a mischievous, almost sardonic expression, evoking a sense of irony and subtle defiance. The eyes, narrowed slightly with a playful glint, convey a knowing smirk that invites both curiosity and skepticism. This expression mirrors the sentiment in Ghalib's famous couplet, "Poochtay Hain Woh Ghalib Kaun Hai; Koi Batlao, Kay Hum Batlain Kya", which speaks to the complexity of identity and the futility of attempting to define someone whose essence resists explanation. The subject seems to embody this very uncertainty, as though challenging the viewer to unravel the layers beneath the surface. The title thus becomes a reflection of this playful defiance—a statement that not only questions the notion of identity but also wittily asserts that perhaps the answer is too elusive to be articulated.Original Size: 90cm x 60cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire

Adhoori Kahani (Half the tale)The painting features half a face of an old rajhastani man. The face is showing years of battering of age and wisdom and some degree of melancholy. The brightly coloured, feative turban though completely juxtaposes itself to the otherwise sombre facial expressions, representing a level of stoicism. Half a face and the contrast in turban colour against the sombre mood of the man leaves a lot untold. There surely is a story beyond what the eye sees. Hence the title: Adhoori KahaniOriginal Size: 90cm x 76cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire

Marri GazeMarri is a tribe in Balochistan (Pakistan). Men from this tribe ir known for their characteristic long, flowy turbans tied in a unique manner and beard curled under their chins like bands of a helmet is pushing the beard down into a curl. The portrait depicts a hyper-realistic image of a Marri man whose Hazel eyes have a strange piercing quality, mesmerising the viewer. The size of the painting makes it extremely majestic and a statement peice.Original Size: 152cm x 122cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire

TalaashTalassh is an urdu word meaning "search". This painting is inspired by a poem by Jaun Eliya called Gumaan. In the poem the poet is hopelessly searching for his beloved. His agony is indescribable. He lament is heart wrenching. This painting hence depicts a man who is looking for someone. He is staring in the abyss with a hopeless sad look, wondering whether he will ever be able to find what he is looking for. His head gear distraught, his face sunburnt and eyes empty. He is on a quest, a search, a quest for that someone who he knows he very well knows he will never find.Original Size: 152cm x 122cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire

CheeseThe work captures a hyper realistic image of a woman wearing a burqa, a traditional female garment prevalent in North Western Pakistan and Afghanistan. Burqa symobolizes everything from honour, to modesty, to freedom as well as oppression depending on what lens you look at it from.The pose struck by the person here clearly shows that despite the fact that she is fully covered and not visible to the viewer, yet is looking directly at the camera / viewer in an elegant pose as if ready to be photographed!Original Size: 90cm x 76cmMedium: Charcoal on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire

Khud Ko Tabah Kar LiyaA caricature portrait of Jaun Elia the legendary poet in a sombre mood, as though, personifying the first verse of his couplet: Khud ko tabah kar liya!Original Size: 45cm x 30cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire

Aur Malal Bhi NahinA caricature portrait of Jaun Eliya in a funny mood, as though personifying the second verse of his couplet: Aur malal bhi nahin. Here the poet is shown in an ironically humorous demeanour where he is laughing sadistically at his own destruction.Original Size: 45cm x 30cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire

FaizA portrait of the legendary urdu poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz depicting him in a thoughtful pose.Original Size: 30cm x 30cmMedium: Charcoal and Oil Paint on CanvasAvailability: AvailablePrice : Inquire