SORAYA SIKANDER

Biography

Soraya Sikander is one of today’s leading contemporary South Asian artists known for her landscapes and organic forms. The artist has been ranked as one of Pakistan’s bestknown painters making it big internationally, listed as ‘Artist to watch’. Soraya works in oil and acrylics on canvas and is internationally renowned for inventing her pioneering Calligraphy Landscapes. Recognition for her work has come through critical acclaim and nonstop sold-out exhibitions. She is also a TEDx art speaker. Soraya Sikander trained in fine arts through the London Atelier of Representational Arts, and UCL Slade summer intensive. Her art has been reviewed by: China News, HELLO! Magazine, OK!, The National, Khaleej Times, Gulf News, The Gulf Today, Dahabiya, Al Bilad, Jaffat El Aqlam, Artlyst, etc. Soraya Sikander has held over twenty international group & solo exhibitions at premier galleries and museums worldwide including: Beijing Biennale 2019 & 2017 (National Art Museum of China), Galerie Patries Van Dorst (Netherlands), Etihad Modern (Abu Dhabi), National Museum of Bangladesh (Dhaka museum), 2 La Galleria Pall Mall, Royal Opera Arcade (London), Unicorn Gallery (Karachi, Lahore, Dubai), Alhamra Art Gallery (Lahore), Sharjah Heritage Museum, The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) RAK Fine Art Fair, Lahore Biennale and more.

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

11 FEBRUARY 2021 Group show: 'THE WORLD IS TOO MUCH WITH US' The Gallery, Sustainable City, Dubai

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27 NOVEMBER 2020 Private viewing: ‘ART EXHIBITION LAUNCH’ In collaboration with Select Group, Pacific Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah

01 OCTOBER 2020 Group show: ‘HUNAR ART 2020’ A fundraiser by friends of Hunar, Online International Art Exhibition

01 OCTOBER 2020 Studio launch: ‘DUBAI ART STUDIO’ Launch of Soraya Sikander’s new art studio, Dubai

29 OCTOBER 2019 Group show: ‘VOICES’ Elham Art Gallery, Ras Al Khaimah

26 AUGUST 2019 Biennale: ‘A COLORFUL WORLD AND A SHARED FUTURE’ 8th International Artist Beijing Biennale, National Museum of China, Beijing

03 JUNE 2019 Group show: ‘100 YEARS OF HILTON’ Waldorf Astoria, Ras Al Khaimah

24 MARCH 2018 Biennale: ‘RESURGENCE’ Lahore Biennale 01 collateral event, Lahore

10 FEBRUARY 2018 Solo show: ‘INSCAPE 2018’ Unicorn Gallery, Lahore

24 SEPTEMBER 2017 Biennale: ‘SILK ROAD AND WORLD CIVILIZATIONS’ 7th International Artist Beijing Biennale, National Museum of China, Beijing

28 FEBRUARY 2017 Solo show: ‘INSCAPE – EXPLORING INNER LANDSCAPES’ Unicorn Gallery, Lahore

20 FEBRUARY 2016 Art Fair: ‘RAK FINE ART FAIR 2016’ National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah

28 NOVEMBER 2015 Group show: ‘EMBASSY ART’ Galerie Patries Van Dorst, Wassenaar, Netherlands 3

20 JANUARY 2014 Solo show: ‘IN, AT AND AROUND’ Alhamra Arts Council, Lahore

20 AUGUST 2013 Group show: ‘AWAAZ BALDIA INFERNO’ Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi

10 JANUARY 2013 Solo show: ‘IN, AT & AROUND: EXPLORING URBAN SPACE’ Unicorn Gallery, Karachi

28 SEPTEMBER 2012 Group show: ‘NEW ART FROM PAKISTAN’ La Galleria Pall Mall, London

05 SEPTEMBER 2012 Group show: ‘SLADE SUMMER SHOW 2014’ University College London, Slade school of fine art, London

29 JULY 2011 Group show: ‘ART FROM PAKISTAN’ Pakistan High Commission, London

04 OCTOBER 2010 Group show: ‘ART WITHOUT BOUNDARIES’ Total Arts, Dubai

17 JUNE 2010 Group show: ‘THE GOLDEN COLLECTION’ Unicorn Gallery, Karachi

17 JUNE 2010 Solo show: ‘AN ODE TO NATURE’ Grand Trunk Road Art Gallery, Singapore

19 FEBRUARY 2010 Solo show: ‘A FLORAL SYMPHONY’ Unicorn Gallery, Karachi

16 OCTOBER 2009 Group show: ‘A MEETING OF MINDS’ National Art Gallery Bangladesh, Shilpakala Academy / Dhaka Museum, Dhaka

30 AUGUST 2009 Group show: ‘RECESSION’ Unicorn Gallery, Karachi

REVIEWS

13 FEBRUARY 2021 'The World is Too Much With Us - Art Exhibition' by Matt Pomroy, GQ

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24 JANUARY 2021 '6 UAE-Based Artists On How They're Encouraging Sustainability Via Their Art' by Athwifa Saleem, Harper's Bazaar Art 

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19 NOVEMBER 2020 ‘Soraya has a lockdown art attack’ by Asjad Nazir, Eastern Eye

17 NOVEMBER 2020 ‘For the skill within you’ The News

10 AUGUST 2020 ‘Soraya Sikander paints two new murals in a private project for Delhi Private School’ Biz Today

05 AUGUST 2020 ‘Nature more mural by Soraya Sikander for Private School, UAE’ Enewspaper

14 NOVEMBER 2019 ‘Art has the ability to humanize us: Soraya Sikander’ by Asjad Nazir, Eastern Eye

16 MAY 2019 ‘The colours pull me’ The Independent

31 MAY 2019 ‘World Galleries Display Artist’s Works’ The News 

31 MAY 2019 ‘A big Eid trip down memory lane’ Eastern Eye

04 APRIL 2019 ‘A painter of life, Pakistani artist travels world for landscape inspiration’ The News

03 APRIL 2019 ‘I surely visit London in Autumn: Soraya Sikander’ Geo News 

21 MARCH 2019 ‘Give Peace a chance’ Indian News 

30 JULY 2018 ‘Soraya Sikander – Painters of Pakistan’ Albilad English Daily

19 MARCH 2018 ‘Pakistani Artist Soraya Sikander exhibits INSCAPE at Unicorn Gallery’ by Nasir Wakeel, Aaj.tv

04 MARCH 2018 ‘Exhibition: Realms of colour and spirit’ Dawn

11 FEBRUARY 2018 ‘Beauty of seasons in dreams at Unicorn Gallery’ International The News 

14 DECEMBER 2017 ‘Pakistan’s leading contemporary landscape painter Soraya Sikander’ Enewspaper

08 DECEMBER 2017 ‘Pioneer of style’ The Friday Times

22 OCTOBER 2017 ‘Between sight and memory’ Dawn (EOS Page 4) 

13 MAY 2017 ‘Soraya giving new dimensions to calligraphy’ Ad Gallery Vivo

26 MARCH 2017 ‘Gallery: Inner landscapes’ by Saira Dar, Dawn

19 MARCH 2017 ‘How green is our grey’, The News on Sunday 

17 MARCH 2017 ‘In her mind’s eye’ by Talal Faisal, The Friday Times

03 MARCH 2017 ‘When travel meets nature through art’ The Express Tribune

22 JULY 2016 ‘Soraya: Picture this’ by Asjad Nazir, Eastern Eye

28 JUNE 2016 ‘Can’t miss 5 art exhibitions to see in Abu Dhabi & Dubai’ By Anna Seaman, The National

23 JUNE 2016 ‘Fananoon fe daulate al emarat’ by Liz Collins, Dahabiya

06 JUNE 2016 ‘Changing the landscape’ by Anna Seaman, The National, Arts & Culture

04 MARCH 2016 ‘Breaking Barriers: Women Achievers Talk Equality feat. artist Soraya Sikander’ by Asjad Nazir, Eastern Eye

08 JANUARY 2016 ‘My Top Ten Artistic Moments and Inspiration with Soraya Sikander’ by Asjad Nazir, Eastern Eye

DECEMBER 2015 ‘Soraya Sikander at Galerie Patires Van Dorst’ European Association for Asian Art and Archaeology

23 OCTOBER 2015 ‘Embassy Art Exhibition’ Diplomat Magazine

DECEMBER 2014 ‘Top Pakistani Contemporary Artists Making It Big Internationally’ ArtSome

SEPTEMBER 2014 ‘HELLO! Pakistan catches up with artist Soraya Sikander’ HELLO! Pakistan

JUNE 2014 ‘An Inquisitive Wanderer – Urban Trivialities and Art Escape’ CaravanDaily

APRIL 2014 ‘Soraya Sikander’s work is an on-going visual monologue’ IRIS

19 FEBRUARY 2014 ‘In, at and around with Soraya Sikander’ Youlin Magazine

15 FEBRUARY 2014 ‘Soraya Sikander’s In, at and around Lahore makes news’ The News Lark

FEBRUARY 2014 ‘In, at an around: Soraya Sikander at Alhamra Gallery’ SHE magazine

02 FEBRUARY 2014 ‘Art beat: Eclectic and exuberant’ Dawn

23 JANUARY 2014 ‘Exhibition In, At and Around continues to attract crowds’ Daily Times

21 JANUARY 2014 ‘In, at and around: Urban violence, natural beauty caught on canvas’ The Express Tribune

21 JANUARY 2014 ‘New approach paintings on display’ Dawn

DECEMBER 2013 ‘Sharing an artist’s viewpoint: Soraya Sikander In, at and around’ ADA Architecture Design Art

MAY 2013 ‘Responding to her environment’ Glam Magazine

FEBRUARY 2013 ‘Voyage of Discovery’ Newsline magazine

FEBRUARY 2013 ‘In, at and around’ Women’s Own magazine

28 JANUARY 2013 ‘Artist explores British urban landscape’ The Samosa UK

25 JANUARY 2013 ‘Various impressions of the city’ Weekly Pulse

19 JANUARY 2013 ‘Art Facts: Dark and bright cityscapes’ Business Recorder

13 JANUARY 2013 ‘Art Beat: In, at and around’ Dawn

12 JANUARY 2013 ‘In, At and Around by Soraya Sikander’ Islamic Arts Magazine

11 JANUARY 2013 ‘Soraya Sikander uses London’s colours and Karachi’s tones of grey’ The Express Tribune

11 JANUARY 2013 ‘Impressions of a foreign land’ Dawn

SEPTEMBER 2012 ‘Works of leading Pakistani Artists to be showcased in London’ The Samosa

SEPTEMBER 2012 ‘New Art from Pakistan’ Artlyst

SEPTEMBER 2012 The High Commission for Pakistan in United Kingdom – Essay

SEPTEMBER 2012 La Galleria Pall Mall – Essay

JULY 2011 ‘Vitality and versatility’ The Nation London

JULY 2011 Associated Press of Pakistan – Essay

31 JULY 2011 ‘The response of young Pakistani artists’ Frontier Star

27 JULY 2011 ‘Contemporary Art Exhibition at Pakistan High Commission’ AsiaNet

07 JULY 2011 ‘Question of peace – answer of art’ The Gulf Today

24 JUNE 2011 ‘At one with Nature’ Art & Culture, Khaleej Times

29 MAY 2010 ‘The Golden Collection of vivid scenic beauty’ Business Recorder

24 MAY 2010 ‘The Golden Collection pays homage’ Daily Times

23 MAY 2010 ‘Rustic art — a piece of gold’ Dawn

02 APRIL 2010 ‘Flower power’ Business Recorder

26 MARCH 2010 ‘Make flowers — not war’ Nigaah

24 MARCH 2010 ‘Seeking solace in colours of spring’ Business Recorder

20 FEBRUARY 2010 ‘Celebrating nature — not terrorism’ Daily Times

24 FEBRUARY 2010 ‘Soraya’s painting exhibition’ The Leader

10 JANUARY 2010 ‘Sapphic Tales’ Dawn

23 OCTOBER 2009 ‘A meeting of minds’ Arts and Entertainment, The Daily Star

23 OCTOBER 2009 ‘Emotions coloured’ Star Weekend

24 AUGUST 2009 ‘Interpreting the recession’ Dawn

22 AUGUST 2009 ‘Recession on canvas’ Business Recorder

19 JULY 2009 ‘Fann-e-Musawari’ Muqadamma

15 JUNE 2009 ‘Musawari ko urooj’ Awam

15 JUNE 2009 ‘Art in Pakistan’ Regional Times

22 MARCH 2009 ‘A place in the sun’ Gulf News

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2019 The Album of the eighth Beijing International Art Biennale. China 2019 compiled by China Artists Association

2018 ‘Resurgence’, Lahore Biennale 01 collateral event catalogue

2017 The Album of the seventh Beijing International Art Biennale. China 2017 compiled by China Artists Association 

2016 Ras Al Khaimah Fine Art Fair 2016 catalogue in collaboration with the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah

2015 ‘Oxford Companion to Pakistani Art encyclopedia’ Oxford University Press 

2013 ‘In, at and around: exploring urban space’ Noorani Press – With essays by Professor Gerda Roper, Juliet Highet, Marjorie Husain, Dr. Akbar Naqvi, Mohsin Jaffri, MS Kureshi