My love for art started as a young child in art class. I always had a passion to create something from nothing; to take a blank canvas and bring it to life.
But my path to becoming an artist was anything but straightforward. I graduated with a degree in Economics and worked in public relations, television, and advertising; but soon realized that a more traditional career was not for me. I enrolled in acting school at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City; the following year I moved to Mumbai and had a leading role in an independent Bollywood film that was screened at various film festivals. But throughout this time, I kept coming back to painting to keep me grounded and energized; in 2014 I committed to developing my career as a visual artist.
I’ve always been fascinated with typography — the way letters can create an atmosphere and elicit a response, much like music and dance. Arabic calligraphy in particular has this rhythm. I want to use this quality to create works of art that uplift people’s spirits and transform their hearts. I select verses from the Quran that resonate with me and show God’s mercy, compassion, forgiveness and reassurance. And I choose verses from Rumi and other poets that inspire and motivate.
I hope you’ll enjoy looking through my paintings; and whatever your faith tradition may be, I hope you’ll find in my work a sense of beauty, serenity and peace
