Saira Wasim

Saira Wasim is a noted contemporary artist from Lahore, Pakistan. She currently lives in US. Wasim uses the miniature style of painting, pioneered by the Persians but extensively used in South Asia, to make primarily political and cultural art. Wasim's art has been showcased in a number of premiere museums including the Whitney Museum of American Art, Brooklyn Museum of Art, and Asian Art Museum.

Biography

Ms. Wasim was born in Lahore, Pakistan. She belongs to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Ms. Wasim has recently noted that persecution as an Ahmadiyya, was key in shaping her artistic perspectives. She has as of yet hesitated to address the topic in her art.

Ms. Wasim went to National College of Arts (in Lahore), from where she graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Arts with focus in miniature painting in 1999.

Ms. Wasim has held positions as a Visiting Artist at numerous important places including

• 2003 Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
• 2003 University of Maryland, College Park
• 2004 Smith College, Massachusetts
• 2005 Oklahoma State University

Artistic Approach

Saira Wasim draws Persian Miniatures to make devastating political commentary. Using traditional art to make modern commentary has proliferated within the Asian contemporary art world with artists like Chottu Lal, and Rageshwar Singh using the folk and religious traditions to make art.

Saira's pet political topics are commenting on the vast chasm that exists between the West and the Islamic world,...
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