Artist Bio
Sharmeen Uqaili, born in Karachi, Pakistan, is an artist whose work merges the intricate beauty of Islamic patterns with modern design elements, reflecting her cultural heritage and exploring themes of spirituality and transcendence. Her art draws inspiration from Persian rugs, art and architecture from Islamic lands, and Sufism’s mystical dimensions, creating intricate geometric designs with a contemporary twist.
Sharmeen holds a BA in Visual Arts from the University of Texas at Dallas and MFA in Studio Arts from Southern Methodist University in Dallas (2025). Her work has been featured in exhibitions, including Craighead New Texas Talent (2024) and Dallas Contemporary NTX Graduate Student Program (2025). Her creations celebrate tradition while offering a transformative exploration of personal and spiritual journeys.
Artist Statement
In my paintings, I explore an imagined heaven, a realm constructed within my mind. For me, this space embodies peace and serenity, a world where time and space dissolve, and eternity feels unified. Using shaped wood panels, I paint with gouache and ink to create windows into a celestial world, where my actual and imagined selves merge. My work invites viewers to experience both a sense of freedom and a moment of respite from the constraints of earthly life.
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I incorporate earthly figures, hands and feet, to establish a connection between the physical and the celestial, bridging the earthly and heavenly realms. Geometric and floral patterns, which might traditionally feel structured or confining, are intentionally fragmented, allowing me to break free from enclosed design. This rearrangement of forms introduces movement, spontaneity, and surprise within my work. Overlapping elements add depth, creating a visual pathway between the two realms and allowing them to coexist on a two-dimensional plane.
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The shapes and patterns I paint are deeply influenced by my upbringing, giving my work a personal and intimate quality. They serve as a bridge between my past and present, reflecting both my cultural identity as a Pakistani and my experiences as an American. My art is, in many ways, a self-portrait, capturing my present state and aspirations, my earthly existence, and my vision of heaven. It is an exploration of the intersection between two worlds: the physical and the spiritual, the internal and the external.
