Nahid Raza

Nahid Raza (born 1948) is a contemporary Pakistani artist known for her semi-abstract paintings.

Early life and education She was born in Delhi, India,

Early in her career, Raza held her first group exhibition in 1968 while still a student, and she won her first award in 1969 at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi. She completed her arts course in 1970.

Career Artistic development In the early 1970s, Raza's observations of life, particularly the concrete balconies and patterned wall openings of her family home, inspired her Jharoke (balcony) series. These early works incorporated geometrical designs and Islamic motifs, influenced by Byzantine art. A visit to the Chaukhandi Tombs outside Karachi in the early 1980s marked a significant shift in her work. Critic S. Amjad Ali reviewed an exhibition of the series in 1985, noting the large, abstract paintings were rich in color and symbolic captions like "Woman — Symbol of Strength". She was awarded a residency at New York State University in 1998. Four works from her Chowkandi Tombs series are held in the collection of Bradford Museums and Galleries.

Personal life In 1971, Raza married artist Maqsood Ali, who was also a peer in the art world. The marriage ended in divorce in the early 1980s. She has two children, Zainab and Azfar. Her son, Azfar Ali, has also entered the arts as a filmmaker.

Awards and recognition Pride of Performance award by the President of Pakistan in 2008. She employs vibrant colors, geometric forms, and bold brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and energy. Her themes of cultural heritage and women's rights are recurrent throughout her diverse body of work.