Welcome
Soraya Sikander is a critically acclaimed, contemporary painter known for her landscapes and organic forms. The artist has held over twenty-six international group & solo exhibitions at premier galleries and museums worldwide with nonstop sold-out exhibitions. Her art has featured in international auctions including Bonhams.
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), 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.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
22 February 2024 'Cosmos’ Avari Lahore in collaboration with Unicorn Gallery, Phenomena by Pomme and Majoor Art, Lahore, Pakistan
01 February 2024 ‘Cosmos’ Avari Towers in collaboration with Unicorn Gallery, Phenomena by Pomme and Majoor Art, Karachi, Pakistan
10 February 2018‘Inscape 2018’ Unicorn Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
28 February 2017‘Inscape: Exploring Inner Landscapes’ Unicorn Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
20 January 2014 ‘In, At and Around’ Alhamra Arts Council, Lahore, Pakistan
10 January 2013‘In, At and Around: Exploring Urban Space’ Unicorn Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
17 June 2010 ‘An Ode to Nature’ Grand Trunk Road Art Gallery, Singapore
19 February 2010 ‘A Floral Symphony’ Unicorn Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
22 November 2024 Futurities: Envisioning New Worlds’ Diba Art Gallery, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
09 June 2023‘THEM’ Sahra Art Galleria, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
22 February 2021'The World Is Too Much With Us' L'Alliance Française of Dubai
11 February 2021'The World Is Too Much With Us' The Gallery, Sustainable City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
01 October 2020‘Hunar Art 2020’ A fundraiser by friends of Hunar, Online International Art Exhibition, Karachi, Pakistan
29 October 2019‘Voices’ Elham Art Gallery, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
03 June 2019‘100 Years of Hilton’ Waldorf Astoria, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
28 November 2015‘Embassy Art’ Galerie Patries Van Dorst, Hague, Netherlands
20 August 2013 ‘Awaaz Baldia Inferno’ Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan
28 September 2012‘New Art from Pakistan’ La Galleria Pall Mall, London, United Kingdom
05 September 2012‘Slade Summer Show 2014’ University College London, Slade school of fine art, London, United Kingdom
29 July 2011 ‘Art from Pakistan’ Pakistan High Commission, London, United Kingdom
04 October 2010 ‘Art Without Boundaries’ Total Arts, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
17 June 2010‘The Golden Collection’ Unicorn Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
16 October 2009 ‘A Meeting of Minds’ National Art Gallery of Bangladesh, Shilpakala Academy / Dhaka Museum, Bangladesh
30 August 2009‘Recession’ Unicorn Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
ART FAIRS AND BIENNALES
22 September 2021 Biennale: ‘International Painting Biennial, Chisinau 2021’ 7th edition of the International Painting Biennial, under the patronage of Ministry of Culture of Republic of Moldova, National Museum of Fine Arts of Republic of Moldova
26 August 2019 Biennale: ‘A Colourful World and a Shared Future’ 8th International Artist Beijing Biennale, National Museum of China, Beijing, China
24 March 2018 Biennale: ‘Resurgence’ Lahore Biennale 01 collateral event, Lahore, Pakistan
24 September 2017 Biennale: ‘Silk Road and World Civilizations’ 7th InternationaL Artist Beijing Biennale, National Museum of China, Beijing, China
20 February 2016 Art Fair: ‘RAK Fine Art Fair 2016’ National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
AWARDS
January 2024 ‘The Art Circle Award 2023’ shortlisted artist prize, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
January 2023 ‘Golden Visa’ Artist Talent Golden Visa, Government of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
November 2021 ‘High Achiever’ in Arts & Calligraphy Award at the National Youth League, Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad, Pakistan.
August 2020 ‘Best Contemporary Landscape Painter – South Asia’ Business Excellence Awards, Acquisition International, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.
AUCTIONS
28 April 2024 ‘TCF Gala – 15th Annual Gala’, The Citizens Foundation, Washington, United States of America
08 October 2022 ‘TCF Gala – Artists from Pakistan’, The Citizens Foundation, Washington, United States of America
22 November 2022 ‘Friendship NGO’, Bonhams, London, United Kingdom
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2019 Bibliography: ‘The Album of the eighth Beijing International Art Biennale China 2019’ compiled by China Artists Association
2018 Bibliography: ‘Resurgence’, Lahore Biennale 01 collateral event catalogue
2017 Bibliography: ‘The Album of the seventh Beijing International Art Biennale China 2017’ compiled by China Artists Association
2016 Bibliography: ‘Ras Al Khaimah Fine Art Fair 2016’ catalogue in collaboration with the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah
2015 Bibliography: ‘Oxford Companion to Pakistani Art’ encyclopedia, Oxford University Press
2013 Bibliography: ‘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
2010 Bibliography: ‘Contemporary Pakistani Artists’ (Paperback) General Books LLC, ISBN 9781156558416 Barnes and Noble
EDUCATION
May 2022 – December 2024 Master of Arts in Art Education (MA AE) Degree Specializing in Teaching Art. Beaconhouse National University Lahore
July 2022 – October 2022 ‘Manuscript Illumination/Tehzib Painting’ Level 1 and ‘Fresco/Naqqashi’ Level 1. Hast o Neest, Lahore
November 2021 – November 2021 Traditional Arts: Fresco Painting. National College of Arts, Lahore
April 2014 – July 2014 Bargue Drawing in Old Masters Style. The London Atelier of Representational Art
May 2012 – August 2012 Foundation: Summer intensive in design, art history and visual language. Slade School of Fine Art, University College London
May 2005 – December 2008 Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (BA Hons) Media and Communication CGPA 3.83 A+ Dean’s Honor List. Graduated with Distinction in Media and Communication studies. Beaconhouse National University Lahore
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
August – October 2020 Private Tutor to the Royal Family of Ras Al Khaimah,
United Arab Emirates
July – September 2019 Intensive Art Workshops at Communitea Mina Al Arab,
Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
January – February 2019 Group Training Art Classes at Marjan Island,
Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
June – July 2018 ‘Calligraphy: Word Into Art’ Workshop at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
June – August 2018 ‘History of Art’ & ‘Drawing/Painting’ Workshops at Unicorn Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
PROJECTS AND COMMISSIONS
2021 Artist Talk ‘Talkative with Ahmad’ Foundry Gallery, Dubai (Podcast)
2020 Contemporary Nature Murals, Mural Paintings Project, Commissioned by Delhi Private School, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (Project)
2019 ‘Calligraphy Landscape’, commissioned project for London Dairy (Commission)
2019 Sharjah Expo, Art workshop in collaboration with the Sharjah Museum / Sharjah Heritage institute at Sharjah Expo Centre, Sharjah, UAE (Project)
2019 Art Collaboration with Bill Zhao, Art collaboration painting with Chinese Master Artist Bill Zhao during the 8th Beijing International Art Biennale, Beijing, China (Project)
2014 Conditioning in art: Images without context, Art Lecture for TED talks, TEDx event at NED University, Karachi, Pakistan (Project)
SPECIAL VIEWINGS
08 October 2022 The Citizens Foundation fundraiser art auction, Washington, USA
27 November 2020 ‘Art Exhibition Launch in collaboration with Select Group, Pacific Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
01 October 2020 ‘Dubai Art Studio Launch of Soraya Sikander’s new art studio in Dubai’ in collaboration with Unicorn Gallery Unlimited, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
04 October 2010 NM Art Gallery, Viewing in Dubai, UAE
10 December 2008 Unicorn Space Dubai, ‘The Kohinoor Selection: Art Gems of the subcontinent’
TV AND VIDEO APPEARENCES
June 2022 ‘Dubai Based Artist Soraya Sikander Set to Exhibit Paintings and Drawings in New Style’ Inner Views & News channel
January 2022 ‘Soraya Sikander is Introducing Pakistani Art Internationally’ Inner Views & News channel
November 2021 ‘Frescoes at National College of Arts’ Emra News
November 2021 ‘Frescoes at National College of Arts’ Dawn News
August 2020 ‘Soraya Sikander talks to Artist Tree’ Artist Tree channel
August 2019 ‘Soraya Sikander at Beijing Biennale’ China Tv
February 2019 ‘I surely visit London in Autumn Season: Soraya Sikander’ Geo News
August 2018 ‘Soraya Sikander TV Interview’ City42 Tv
July 2018 ‘Soraya Sikander on Morning show Jaggo Lahore’ Lahore News Tv
June 2018 ‘Soraya Sikander on Morning show Jaggo Lahore’ Lahore News Tv
April 2018 ‘Soraya Sikander Painters of Pakistan’ 7News pk Tv
March 2017 ‘Inscape by Soraya Sikander’ Art Tv
March 2017 ‘Inscape - exhibition artist Soraya Sikander interview’ Dawn News
December 2016 ‘Artist Soraya Sikander on her work’ Samaa Tv
November 2015 ‘Soraya Sikander on Art and Pakistan’ PTV Weekend World, PTV News
November 2015 ‘Pakistani Artist Soraya Sikander at Embassy Art Exhibition Netherlands’ Sights and Sounds of Pakistan channel
October 2015 ‘Soraya Sikander in her studio’ Samaa Tv
January 2014 ‘Soraya Sikander Alhamra exhibition’ C42 City42 Tv
January 2012 ‘Soraya Sikander talks about her Bridal sculpture on the Morning show’ TV1