is a Pakistani artist based in Dubai. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore, where she specialized in Printmaking. After acquiring her undergraduate degree, she pursued an MA in Fine Art at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), UK, with a focus on Painting.
Her works have been shown in Beirut, Dubai, Karachi, Lahore, Madrid, Sharjah and Philadelphia including solo shows at Sabrina Amrani (Madrid), Cuadro Fine Art Gallery (Dubai) and her first institutional solo show in the UAE held recently at Maraya Art Centre (Sharjah). She was commissioned by UAE Unlimited (under the patronage of Sheikh Zayed Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahyan) to create work for the exhibition 'Tashweesh’, held at Maraya Art Centre (Sharjah) in 2019. Zara was a member of Campus Art Dubai in its fifth iteration in 2016 (CAD 5.0). She has designed and led drawing workshops at Jameel Arts Centre, Sharjah Museum, Dubai Ladies Club and The Pavilion in conjunction with START. She was recently a speaker on a panel for the global RewirED Summit at Expo 2020 Dubai, alongside football icon Clarence Seedorf and renowned opera singer Juan Diego Flores, which focused on the role art, music and sport can play in education to foster strategic thinking and build leadership and collaborative skills.
Zara has taught at the American University in Dubai and at Zayed University, and is a member of Dubai-based alternative rock/electronica band Sail Into Night. She is currently pursuing an MFA at New York University in Abu Dhabi.
> SOLO EXHIBITIONS
> GROUP EXHIBITIONS
> AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
> WORKSHOPS
> PRESS, REVIEWS AND ESSAYS
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
Towards Time, Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah
2014
Degrees of Modulation, Sabrina Amrani, Madrid
2013
Looking at the Overlooked, Cuadro Fine Art Gallery, Dubai
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
A Return to the Ground, UAE Embassy (in collaboration with Dirwaza Curatorial Lab), Tokyo
Nine Nodes of Non-Being, 421, Abu Dhabi
gabriel, Grey Noise, Dubai
2022
Bound, Bayt Al Mamzar (in collaboration with NYUAD MFA Program), Dubai
Wamda, Warehouse #1 (in collaboration with UAE Unlimited), Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
2020
Landscape of Memory, Koel Gallery, Karachi
2019
Microcosm III, Gandhara Art Space, Karachi
Tashweesh, Maraya Art Centre (in collaboration with UAE Unlimited), Sharjah
2016
but even if I cannot see the sun, (participated as Sail Into Night), Grey Noise, Dubai
2015
They Really Live the Real Reality, Twelve Gates Arts, Philadelphia
2014
Dhaka Art Summit, courtesy ArtChowk, Dhaka
2013
Sikka Art Fair, Dubai
2012
Beirut Art Fair, courtesy ArtChowk, Beirut
2011
Exploring the Narrative, Park Hyatt, Dubai
Amnesia - The Loss of Cultural Memory, Art Chowk, Karachi
Sheikha Manal's Young Artist Award, Al Mahara Ballroom, Dubai
2010
Pierced Perceptions, Two person show, Rohtas 2, Lahore
Muqtanayati, thejamjar, Dubai
2009
Once Upon A Sting, thejamjar, Dubai
2008
How I Bought Myself A Diamond, AUD, Dubai
Creek Comtemporary Art Fair, Bastakia, Dubai
Talbiya Series, Al Hamra, Lahore
2007
Al Qoulliya, Meem Gallery, Dubai
Villa 111, Creek Contemporary Art Fair, Bastakia, Dubai
2006
Sheikha Manal's New Signature Exhibition, Business Bay, Dubai
Itch, Farnham Maltings, Surrey, UK
A Beautiful Loan, MA Degree Show, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, Surrey, UK
2005
Printmaking Show, Nairang Gallery, Lahore
2004
DIAC Members' Exhibition, Wafi City, Dubai
2003
Interactions, BFA Degree Show, National College of Arts, Lahore
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2022
Recipient of Master's scholarship in Arts and Media at NYU, Abu Dhabi
2020
Recipient of Art Jameel Research and Practice Grant
2016
Selected for Campus Art Dubai 5.0
2011
Winner of Sheikha Manal's Young Artist Award, Fine Arts
2004
Winner of DIAC Members Exhibition
2004
Distinction, Bachelors of Fine Arts - Printmaking
WORKSHOPS
2022
Drawing workshop, Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah
2020
'Drawing As Comfort' in collaboration with Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai
2019
Drawing workshop in collaboration with UAE Unlimited, Jameel Art Centre, Dubai
2011
'Drawing the Biennial' in collaboration with The Pavilion, Sharjah Museum, Sharjah
Drawing workshop, Dubai Ladies Club, Dubai
Painting workshop in collaboration with START, The Pavilion, Dubai
Printmaking workshop in collaboration with START, Park Hyatt, Dubai
PRESS, REVIEWS AND ESSAYS
'The Nebulous Murmur of Time', Saira Ansari, Towards Time catalogue, 2022
'Lightness of Being', Saira Ansari, Canvas Magazine, November/December 2019 (Volume 15, Issue 6)
'Ways to Observe', essay for Tashweesh catalogue, Laura Egerton, 2019
'Intensifying White Noise', essay for Tashweesh catalogue, Suheyla Takesh, 2019
'Art, The Custodian Of Our Everchanging Nature', essay for Tashweesh catalogue, Adel Khozam, 2019
‘But Even If I Cannot See The Sun’, Ipek Ulusoy Akgul, Art Asia Pacific, April 2016
‘Healing Hearts and minds through the power of Art’, Janice Ponce De Leon, Gulf News, November 2011
‘Collective Amnesia’, Muniza Agha-Fawad, Nigaah magazine, Vol.1 Fourteen, 2011
‘Artists' Speak’, Kavita Srinivasan, Masala magazine, March 2011
‘The Art of Denial’, Salwat Ali, DAWN Images (DAWN newspaper), March 2011
‘Amnesia’ - Total Blank’, Pakistan Art Review, March 2011
‘Winner of Young Artist Award 2010 honoured’, Khaleej Times, January 2011
‘Sheikha Manal's Young Artist Award’, Al Bayan (Arabic), January 2011
‘Sheikha Manal's Young Artist Award’, Al Ittihad (Arabic), January 2011
‘Sheikha Manal's Young Artist Award’, Al Khaleej (Arabic), January 2011
‘Once Upon A Sting’ review, Christopher Lord, Time Out Dubai, October 2009
'Language of Art’, Quddus Mirza, The News, January 2008