Global Encounters Festival 2025

Awais Nawaz Born in Peshawar and raised in Karachi, Awais Nawaz is an artist whose work thoughtfully explores the human experience and its connection to the natural world within society. Initially focusing on oil painting, Awais developed a practice rooted in the study of figures, expressions, and the emotive power of color. His works delve into the relationship between the individual and society, using the human form as both subject and metaphor.

I am a freelance interior designer with three years of experience. I specialize in renovating both residential properties and commercial spaces, including hotels and pharmacies. With a background in carpentry, I have a strong passion for working with wood and incorporating it into my designs.

Akimjon Zavqibekov is a Toronto-based visual artist with roots in the mountainous town of Khorog, Tajikistan. His passion for art began in childhood, leading him to attend art school and later graduate with honors from the State Art College. He began his career as an art teacher and worked from 2000 to 2010 as an illustrator and graphic designer for the Aga Khan Foundation, contributing to health education and participating in regional exhibitions. In 2013, Akim immigrated to Toronto with his family, completing a graphic design program at Herzing College with honors. Since then, he has participated in numerous community exhibitions, becoming a finalist in the prestigious Diamond Jubilee Fine Arts competition. He has also organized painting masterclasses for the Ismaili community, sharing his expertise and fostering creativity. Akim's work spans various styles, including realism, abstract, and transcendence, using mediums such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media. Through his art, he conveys emotion and transformation. It is a way to honor his heritage, share his story, and connect people across boundaries. Through his work, Akim strives to inspire a sense of unity and understanding, celebrating the richness of identity and transformation

Born in Nairobi, my passion for art was sparked by her father’s creative influence. Immersed in nature from a young age and inspired by David Shepherd, I began painting wildlife—especially leopards, zebras, and lions. I discovered a love for acrylics, oils, and watercolors, and even created a life-size lion painting that still graces my dining room wall 25 years later. My artistic journey expanded through sumi-e (Chinese ink painting) under a mentor, and my debut exhibition affirmed my talent. Fascinated by animal anatomy, especially horses, they became central to my work. Teaching art to children brought me joy and deepened my connection to creativity. Though my art remains largely unseen in Eldoret, I dream of opening a gallery that celebrates wildlife and artistic expression. A proud moment came in 2018 when my watercolor painting of three horses was chosen for the international Jubilee Arts Festival. My heart remains full of dreams, ready to paint the world with the colors of my soul.

Expressionism Artist This is Lutfuddin Hussaini from Afghanistan. An artist known for my vibrant and emotionally charged self-portraits. Born on 30 Aug 1998, in Kabul Afghanistan. My life was marked emotional pain. At the age of 23 I had to leave my country for the collapse of the authority. Despite my emotional limitations, I began continued my arts during my recovery, often incorporating elements of Afghan culture, symbolism into my work. My artwork frequently depicted my own life experiences, including emotional suffering.

A Young Artistic Prodigy from Mombasa, born on 30th January 2012, Mikhail Samnani is a 13-year-old artist from Mombasa, Kenya, celebrated for his colourful and imaginative creations. His love for art began early, as he spent countless hours drawing and painting, transforming vibrant ideas into captivating works. Recognizing his talent, his parents supported him with art supplies and books about famous artists, while his teachers helped him master various techniques and find inspiration in the world around him and find inspiration in the world around him. Mikhail enjoys illustrating animals, superheroes, and scenes from his favorite stories and his artistic journey is marked by notable achievements. His painting was selected for the ASK Show in Mombasa and featured in a local exhibition. He also won a Junior Art Contest and has competed successfully in various school competitions. Beyond creating art, Mikhail assists budding talents within his school and community, sharing his passion to inspire others. Dreaming of opening his own art gallery one day, Mikhail continues to hone his skills and explore innovative ideas. Despite his age, his work exudes life, imagination, and a unique perspective that resonates with viewers. Mikhail Samnani exemplifies how creativity knows no age. His art inspires others to see the beauty in the world and encourages young talents to pursue their dreams. A bright future undoubtedly awaits this remarkable young artist from Mombasa.

Shazma Jaffer is a passionate mixed-media artist who finds inspiration in everyday materials and meaningful metaphors. With a deep interest in storytelling through art, she often uses recycled and sustainable items to explore themes of family, care, and human connection. Her work combines creativity with purpose, encouraging viewers to reflect on the beauty of life’s different stages. Shazma believes that art can be both expressive and responsible, and she strives to make a positive impact through both her message and her materials.

Karim Kassam Ali is a multidisciplinary artist based in Karachi, Pakistan. Deeply inspired by the world around him — from captivating images and expressive paintings to timeless sculptures and historic architecture — Karim's passion for art has been a lifelong journey. However, it was in September 2014 that he truly recognized and embraced the artist within. Over the past decade, Karim has explored and mastered a wide range of artistic mediums including pencil and charcoal, watercolours, acrylics, oil paints, sculpting, and pottery. His creative journey continues to evolve as he recently added two more unique mediums to his repertoire: Islamic art on sheesham wood and sculpture using epoxy resin. Each medium allows him to express different dimensions of his artistic voice, blending tradition with innovation. In 2018, Karim participated in the inaugural Jubilee Arts competition, where his 3D sculpture in sheesham wood, was selected to represent Pakistan on an international stage in Portugal. This milestone was a defining moment in his career, affirming his commitment to art and its power to transcend borders. Looking ahead, Karim is eager to continue pushing boundaries by exploring metal and marble modeling and design, further expanding his artistic horizons. Passionate and ever-curious, he remains dedicated to refining his craft and sharing the richness of his cultural and personal experiences through art.

Throughout life, we walk through places and find forms that awaken sensations, allegories. The feeling of having already belonged to that place, reminiscences... That was what led me to look for a path in wandering between plots and constancy of forms, regularity and rhythm. The geometry inherent in the weaves that decorate Islamic prayer spaces has been enormously fascinating to me. Our experiences, tastes, and especially our identity come to the fore in the act of creating. She, the identity, prevails. It always ends up standing out. The tile designed by me, due to the fact that I belong to the Ismaili Community, frequent spaces where the geometry of space and elements has an enormous influence on the creative process. Not being a rule, in this case, this ended up happening. The beginning of this project goes back to the simple geometric shapes from the Circle to the Square, passing through the Golden Rectangle, the Fibonacci numbers, the Davinci Code. It has everything to do, knowledge is not stagnant, it is plural and has different orientations and perspectives. The synthesis comes from using the Intellect to organize the different elements and put them at the service of Humanity. From the square, from its multiplicity and variations, is born - Cria Tu. The arrangement of squares is not random. There are advances, there are setbacks, there is intentional organization.

Sahista Bhanvadia – Fashion Designer and Artist I am Sahista Bhanvadia, a passionate fashion designer and artist dedicated to exploring creativity in all forms. Since 7th grade, I’ve never been interested only in studies. Instead, I’ve always sought out experiences that would help me become a better designer. Drawing, crafting, and all kinds of design have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. My skills and expertise span painting, sketching, digital illustration, and fabric painting. I hold degrees in both commerce and fashion design, and I love bringing these different influences together in my work. I also enjoy designing products and packaging—I even completed an internship where I created over 100 straps and developed detailed mood boards. Currently, I work as Head Designer at ATHFLEX, where I lead creative direction for gym wear collections that blend style and function. My approach to design is experimental and open-minded—I create anything you ask for, from basic pencil sketches to oil painting, fabric art, and digital media. I believe in pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas in every project I take on.

Aman's artistic journey began in the 6th grade with nothing more than a paintbrush and a piece of paper. One of his early paintings caught the eye of his school art teacher, who was impressed by the quality of his brushwork. His teacher’s encouragement inspired him to continue exploring his creativity, and with that support, Aman began experimenting with various color mediums and techniques, gradually uncovering his unique artistic voice. As he developed his skills, Aman transitioned to working with canvas and oil paints. He discovered that the texture and depth of canvas provided the ideal surface for expressing his distinctive brush techniques. The movement of the brush across the canvas allowed his ideas to unfold more naturally, bringing greater energy and life to his work. Eventually, Aman explored acrylic paints, which initially posed a challenge due to their fast-drying nature. However, this pushed him to adapt his approach, teaching him to paint more efficiently while maintaining detail and emotional depth. With increased confidence, he began creating large-scale canvases and introduced a technique involving stencils and masking tape, allowing him to incorporate clean lines and structured elements into his vibrant, expressive compositions. Today, Aman’s artwork reflects his journey and growth as an artist. His pieces are marked by bold color choices and recurring themes of care, connection, and emotion. For Aman, painting is more than just a creative outlet—it’s a personal language through which he communicates his inner world and shares a sense of warmth and humanity with others.

✐ 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘪 Artist ✎ Artist|Featured on SonyTV 📍Hyd Prints & framed art

Although I am a scientist, I have always been in love with the arts. Since as far as I can remember, drawing, painting, working with clay or creating ‘azulejos’, has been a part of my life. At the tender age of 7, my school held a contest whereby all children submitted an A4 black and white drawing using their creativity, and mine was selected and featured for the cover of the school magazine, and then again at age 9. These were very proud moments for the very shy child that I was. My paintings have evolved during the years as a hobbyist, and I have dabbled in still life, a few abstract paintings and then I delved into big eyed girls. It was whilst painting the purple lilies in my last big-eyed girl painting that I stumbled upon the realization that I could potentially paint wildlife, more specifically, a big wild cat. Painting the strokes inside the lilies suddenly reminded me of animal fur. It was the oddest realization! To be able to paint the endangered creatures that I adored seemed impossible to me my entire life, and yet, now, it seemed possible?! Dared I? After all, I am not formally trained. I have no art course or art degree. I paint purely by intuition. The result was Asahi. And my life changed. I now paint wildlife as a full-time artist. I am working on my first solo exhibition on the 6th of November to the 6th of December 2025, at the Ismaili Center, Lisbon.

Mariame Ahmad (b. Lyon, France) is a multi-disciplinary artist and spatial designer based in London, UK. She studied Fine Art with a specialisation in Sculpture at Central Saint Martins, before moving into Interior and Spatial Design at Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London. Her work explores themes of space, environment, culture and her French Afghan heritage. Her Master’s project focused on fostering cross-cultural dialogue through art and craftsmanship in a conflict-affected context like Afghanistan. Throughout her Master’s, she conducted interviews with archaeological experts, researchers, Afghan artists, Afghan women refugees, and Iconem — a company dedicated to digitally archiving heritage sites. These conversations, centred on the Bamiyan Great Cliffs and Afghan cultural identity, engaged with themes of preservation, tolerance, and the urgent need to safeguard heritage. The collaborative artworks that emerged from this process serve as platforms for remote engagement with Afghanistan’s cultural legacy — offering a form of resistance to the Taliban’s ongoing erasure of the country’s rich history and diversity.

Eshan Notta: Illuminating the Intersections Eshan Notta is a multidisciplinary artist, researcher, and painter-sculptor who delves into the realms of the quaranic and biblical, weaving intricate narratives that provoke reflection and introspection. Through an unflinching political lens, Notta's works confront the complexities of socialization, abstraction, and irony. Themes and Inspirations Notta's artistic journey is marked by an insatiable curiosity about the human condition, drawing inspiration from the symbolic languages of the Quran and the Bible. By juxtaposing the sacred with the mundane, Notta's works pose poignant questions about identity, morality, and the politics of representation. Artistic Approach With a versatile practice spanning painting and sculpture, Notta employs abstraction and irony as tools to subvert dominant narratives and challenge the viewer's perceptions. Each piece is a testament to the artist's rigorous research and dedication to crafting visually striking, intellectually charged works that spark critical dialogue. Artist Statement "As an artist, I seek to excavate the intersections of faith, politics, and identity, illuminating the tensions and paradoxes that shape our world.”

Anum is an architect currently based out of Washington, DC. She has been drawing since she was a child, and channeled that love of art into her profession. She has recently returned to drawing for enjoyment. Her medium of choice is pen and ink, though she has dabbled in charcoal as well. While she primarily works on mandalas, her art varies.

Heena Hirani growing up had a passion for creative expression and was inspired by the Diamond Jubilee Arts Festival in 2018 to pursue her passion in a more concentrated and consistent manner. After moving to Singapore, she decided to engage with various community art programs to sharpen her skills and create art full time. COVID-19 propelled her to transition and develop her Art studio at home where she was able to accelerate her journey as an independent artist. A principal theme in Heena’s work are nature landscapes concerned with issues surrounding climate change. She tries to inspire reflection and action by expressing the beauty and fragility that often co-exist in what seems to be an uncontrollable world around us. Her dream is to evolve and create a social enterprise through her work.

Ashna Maknojia is an artist with a bold imagination and a passion for creative expression. Inspired by the world around her and the emotions within it, she uses her art to tell stories, explore identity, and capture moments often overlooked. Whether she’s sketching, painting, or experimenting with digital media, her work is filled with color, emotion, and an in-depth perspective. Based in Houston, Ashna began creating art at a young age and has since developed a unique voice that reflects both her experience and her personal journey. She draws inspiration from music, nature, dreams, and the people in her life, blending realism with whimsical touches and abstract ideas. Still early in her artistic journey, Ashna is constantly evolving, learning, and exploring new techniques. Her goal is to inspire others to embrace their creativity, speak their truth, and never be afraid to stand out.

I am a painter and sketch artist inspired by the natural world. My work explores the textures, forms, and quiet rhythms found in nature, rendered on canvas and paper through both painting and sketching. Each piece seeks to evoke stillness, wonder, and a deep sense of connection with the environment.

I am a self-taught textile and clothing artist based in Mashhad, Iran. Since 1997, I have been creating custom garments and expressive textile artworks using techniques such as patchwork, ribbon embroidery, quilting, and fabric painting. My work often reflects themes of storytelling, emotion, and spiritual exploration. I enjoy blending traditional Persian techniques with personal expression to create one-of-a-kind pieces that carry both visual beauty and meaning. I have participated in exhibitions and volunteer art projects, and I continue to explore the endless possibilities of fabric and thread.

My artistic journey began among the stones and silence of my father’s village mines, where I became familiar with the texture of stone and the sound of hammering from an early age. Over time, I began to see the hidden beauty in discarded stones—materials others considered worthless came to life in my hands, transformed into new stories. Each piece became a journey through memory, nature, and imagination. Today, art is more than just creating for me; it’s a bridge—between past and future, between myself and others. With passion, I share this craft through teaching, working on Jamati projects, and striving to improve lives by noticing what often goes unseen.

Farah grew up in the UK and fell in love with ceramics at a young age, when she began learning to throw on the wheel at 15 years old. Working with clay has always felt like a way for Farah to connect with the Earth and also herself, to develop an innate intuition and playfulness which shape her pieces. In 2013 Farah moved to Rome to apprentice under the Master Ceramicist Daniela Vacca and there she learnt the ancient technique of coiling pots by hand. This technique reignited Farah’s love for ceramics. The attention, the love and the slower pace required makes it feel like the pieces are created in conversation with the clay – in an on-going dialogue which produces unexpected and delightful results.

Salina Kassam. Photographer of the Built Environment in Progress. Salina Kassam creates evocative imagery of the built environment, focusing on structures during their construction. Capturing the raw moments of transformation, identity, and place-making. Her work has been widely recognized for its poetic exploration of structure, material, and transformation.

Yesmina Patel is an Ismaili originally from Mozambique. Since childhood, she has loved the arts and has been drawing and painting oil paintings from a young age. She enjoys reciting Ginans and Qasidas and is always willing to help others

Milene Habib is a self-taught Portuguese cake artist and certified trainer with over 15 years of experience. She specialises in sculpted cakes, edible sculptures, hand-painted cakes, and intricate designs, working with chocolate, sugar paste, and other edible materials. Her creations combine technical precision with artistic expression, transforming fragile ingredients into meaningful works of art. Her work has been recognised internationally with medals at Cake International in Birmingham and Cake & Bake in Dortmund. Milene has also presented her pieces on television, in magazines, and through live demonstrations at major cake design shows and competitions.

Muizz Rupani, hailing from Warangal, India, is a dedicated designer and Ground Operations Specialist at Jet Blue, possessing a distinguished educational background with both an MBA and a B.Design. His professional journey has been marked by enriching global experiences, including a notable Russian design internship and active participation in Harvard's HPAIR 2023. Muizz's commitment to excellence is underscored by his diverse achievements. Notably, he clinched victory in the Jubilee Arts 2018 sculpture competition, showcasing his artistic prowess. Additionally, he has taken on leadership roles, exemplified by his pivotal involvement in spearheading a National Virtual Learning Project in India. Muizz Rupani's journey reflects his unwavering commitment to excellence in both professional and creative realms, establishing him as a noteworthy figure in this field.

Benazir Ussene, 26 years old, born in Lisbon, holds a bachelor's degree in Social Communication and a Master's degree in New Media Management. Her passion for photography began at a very young age, and she has developed this passion to a professional level. Whether capturing everyday moments or something more intricate, she always seeks to capture the best moments and preserve them as little static memories.

Raised in Tanzania and now based in Spain, I’m a landscape photographer drawn to the quiet beauty of early light and natural stillness. My work is a meditative practice - honouring the land and capturing fleeting, often-overlooked moments. Professionally trained as an engineer and strategist, I bring precision and presence to every frame.

Aminaz KM is a Tanzanian-born photographer with a passion for storytelling and human connection. After moving to Canada as a teenager, she discovered photography and launched Love Over Lenses, capturing street fashion and everyday moments. While building a career in consulting and later transitioning into tech and product management, she ran a part-time photography business focused on lifestyle and portrait work. Now based in Spain, her work centers on travel and candid subjects - people and animals in motion, captured in their natural rhythm. Her lens is a constant thread through a life shaped by creativity, culture, and change.

Zahra Goulamhoussen is an Indian contemporary artist whose practice explores the intersections of cultural heritage, memory, and modern abstraction. Having lived between Dubai, London, and Mumbai, she draws deeply from a multicultural background that informs her layered visual language. Rooted in the traditions of Islamic architecture, Persian carpet design, and Indian craftsmanship, her work reinterprets these classical elements through a contemporary lens—offering a reflection on the evolving nature of identity and belonging in a globalized world. Her current series, Modern Relics, exemplifies this dialogue between tradition and innovation. Employing acrylics and modeling paste on canvas, Zahra builds complex, textured surfaces where intricate floral motifs and symmetrical medallions emerge and dissolve across minimalist fields. Architectural forms, soft pastels, and earth-toned palettes evoke a sense of quiet monumentality. The sculptural qualities of her paintings, with raised brushwork and distressed surfaces, mimic the erosion of time—suggesting both resilience and transformation. Her compositions invite viewers to contemplate the tension between permanence and impermanence, preservation and reinvention. Zahra’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at Art Shopping at the Carousel du Louvre in Paris, World Art Dubai, and the Affordable Art Fair in Singapore. Notably, she was a finalist for the Scan.Art Emerging Artist Prize 2024 in the Mixed Media category, recognized for her painting Heritage, which engages traditional Persian motifs through the language of abstraction and symbolic restoration. Her practice resonates with collectors and curators seeking contemporary expressions rooted in rich, ancestral narratives, presented through a distinctive modern aesthetic. Through her layered canvases, Zahra invites viewers to navigate the evolving space between memory and reinvention. Her art functions as a living archive—one that honours the past while reshaping it for contemporary reflection. By blending intricate pattern work with the expressive force of abstraction, she offers a compelling meditation on time, transformation, and the enduring dialogue between heritage and modernity.

Renish Sundrani is a management consultant at Arthur D. Little, leveraging data science and AI to optimize operations. With a master's degree in data science and AI, he provides strategic insights and innovative solutions. Renish's creative side finds expression through content writing and public speaking, inspiring others and aiming to become a motivational speaker

I am Orifshoev Farosatsho Zokirshoevich, was born on October 14, 2000 in the Shugna district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of the Republic of Tajikistan. Already in early childhood, I showed a great interest in drawing. In 2007, I began studying at Secondary School No. 12 named after Shirinshah Shahtemur in Shugna district. My school years were filled with active creative work; I took part in many competitions, where my work received high marks. Having determined my future path, in 2016 I entered the Republican Art College named after M. Olimov, located in Dushanbe. Four years of fruitful work during my studies at the college, multiple participation in exhibitions in Tajikistan, at the American and German embassies revealed my creative potential. Having successfully graduated from college, in 2020 I entered Russia under a quota, where I continued my studies as an artist-painter at the Voronezh State Institute of Arts. In Voronezh, I also actively participate in exhibitions and improve my skills as an artist, but there is no limit to perfection, and I am ready to conquer new heights!

Ilyas Kassam is a UK based, Indian Ismaili Visual Artist and Poet. Drawing from Ismaili, Kufic, and Japanese calligraphic traditions, his works centres around the notion of infinity and the role language plays within the mystical experience. He is known for his large textual paintings on rice paper and canvas, that have an explosive yet meditative quality.  Kassam is a self-taught artist whose education emerged out of an immersive 5 year period of meditation and self-discovery. In 2009 he visited the Kangra valley, India, where he spent months meditating in the cave of Baba Sant Ram. This experience gave birth to a prolific period of creative and philosophical inquiry. Ever since, his work has been rooted in the esoteric, and has paid reverence to mystical traditions across the world. He has since studied under shamans, learning the language of plants at Schumacher College, and journeyed to the Guangxi mountains of China to practice calligraphy. His process is autonomic, performative, and works through the natural movements of the body. With roots in Ismaili esoteric thought, he draws inspiration from expressionistic practices including the Bokujinkai and Gutai movements that emerged out of Japan in the 1950s. His practice seeks to create spaces and materials that embody a temple like theurgy, reflecting the inner architecture of his process; where everything is unknown, emergent and runically spontaneous. He was an exhibitor at the 2018 International Jubilee Ismaili Islamic Arts Festival. In 2020 His exhibition ‘The Way’ was held at Port Art and Design Tsuyama, Japan, as part of a joint show with Misuzu Kaneko. In 2023 his solo exhibition ‘Every Spell Is Wet When Held Too Tightly’ was held at The Arx gallery in London. He has shown alongside the likes of Lim Chang Min and Ilhwa Kim.