Visual Artist, Calligrapher and Graphic designer | Pakistan
Rubab Zahra
Artworks by Rubab Zahra
About the creator
Rubab Zahra
- Rubab Zahra is a Pakistani contemporary calligraphy and abstract artist born in 1991, based in Pakistan. A self-taught and self-representing artist, she works to preserve the art of Arabic calligraphy while developing contemporary interpretations that connect traditional Islamic visual heritage with modern expression. She holds the distinction of being the first Pakistani female visual artist to receive the UAE Golden Visa.
Short Biography
Rubab holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Biotechnology and has completed a specialisation in Modern and Contemporary Art and Design from the Museum of Modern Art, New York. She is currently pursuing a degree in Graphic Design to integrate her calligraphic practice with digital and graphic trends. Her work has been shown internationally across Paris, Moscow, Washington DC, Georgia, and Mauritius, and a painting from her practice has entered the permanent collection of the Haegeumgang Theme Museum in South Korea. She has collaborated with international brands including Gucci, LVMH, Dior, Tumi, Sephora, and Starlink, and with institutions including ADCB, SIKKA, and World Art Dubai. She was featured on the cover of WKND Magazine in April 2021 and has been covered by Khaleej Times, BBC MENA, City Times, Geo News, ARY News, and Sharjah TV, among others.
Education
Rubab holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Biotechnology and has completed a specialization in Modern and Contemporary Art and Design from the Museum of Modern Art, New York. She is currently pursuing a degree in Graphic Design.
Exhibitions
Rubab has held two solo art shows at Pullman, JLT, Dubai, in 2019 and 2021. Her group exhibition record includes shows at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, the Moscow State Museum in Russia, Washington DC, Georgia, and the Mauritius International Art Fair. Her painting 'Peace in Our Hands' has been selected for the permanent collection of the Haegeumgang Theme Museum in South Korea.
Awards
Rubab received the Al Zarooni Award in 2021, the Wonder Mom Award in the Fine Art category in 2022, and was selected as Ambassador of Pakistan for Art Connects Women in 2022. She is the first Pakistani female visual artist to receive the UAE Golden Visa.
Artistic Style
Rubab works across two connected bodies of practice: traditional Islamic Arabic calligraphy series and contemporary abstract works that integrate calligraphic gesture and stroke. She uses acrylic paints, inks, and metal leaves, applying them with brushes, palette knives, and unconventional tools to build texture, layers, and depth. Her palette favors monochromes and subtle colors in combination with metallic foils. Her abstract works address current events, social issues, and cultural themes, including inclusivity, diversity, peace, women's empowerment, family, and environmental concerns. For Rubab, words carry power, and the connection between calligraphic mark and abstract expression is central to how she approaches both bodies of work.
Additional Information
Rubab collaborated with Bestune Automobile to design and paint a contemporary calligraphy composition on the Bestune T99. She has worked with brands including Gucci, LVMH, Dior, Tumi, Sephora, and Starlink, and with ADCB, SIKKA, and World Art Dubai. She is part of the Caffeine and Women Movement and the NFT Project, where she is among the pioneer artists. Her work has been featured in Khaleej Times, BBC MENA, WKND Magazine, City Times, Geo News, ARY News, and Sharjah TV, among other media.
Masterpieces by Rubab Zahra
