RAHAT NAVEED MASUD

Known for her sensitive portrayal of the human face and the figure, her paintings carry socio-political and spiritual undertones. Her natural inclination and concern for the ’human condition’ led her to the study of Sufic thought and philosophy for her practice led Doctoral thesis. Rahat’s work is a compelling visual manifestation of aesthetics and human sensibility. She has won several National Awards in recognition of her work, namely the ‘Punjab Council of the Arts’ prize (1991) ‘The Artists’ Association of Punjab Award’ (1999), ‘The Fatima Jinnah Award ’ (2007) and the Presidential Award ‘Pride of Performance’ (2012). She has also been awarded the ‘International Artist for Peace’ Award, Shanghai, China (2014). Her work has been widely exhibited, in exhibitions held in China, Iran, India, Korea, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, USA and the U.K. It has been acquired in private and public collections both at home and abroad.

A scholar and researcher in her own right she has presented and published various papers on art. She conceived and developed the idea of and co-authored a seminal research on the history of Punjab University's Art College, entitled A journey of Resilience and Success (1940-2013). She is co-author of a catalogue Landscape Painting-Cityscapes and Related Conceptual Paintings. She also initiated the first research journal of Punjab University’s Art College entitled Jamal. She has curated several exhibitions, including the Inaugural show for the National Art Gallery, Islamabad in 2007. Apart from being a Member of a number of cultural and academic bodies, she is former Principal, College of Art and Design, University of the Punjab and former Dean, Faculty of Art and Humanities, University of the Punjab, Lahore.