Mashkoor Raza

Mashkoor Raza was a Pakistani painter and art educator. He was known for works in realism, abstract art, and impressionism, calligraphy, and for recurring equestrian themes.

Early life and education

Raza was born in 1948 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. His family migrated to Pakistan when he was a child. He studied at the Karachi School of Art, graduating in 1972 with a gold medal. He later taught at the same institution for a brief period. He studied under Rabia Zuberi, Hajra Zuberi, and Mansoor Rahi.
A book titled Mashkoor Raza's Journey, authored by Nadeem Zuberi, was published several years before Raza's death. It documents various experiences from his life and phases of his artistic career.

Career

In 1990, Raza established the Mashkoor School of Art. Alongside his art practice, he worked in textile design.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, he held over 60 solo exhibitions and participated in group shows in Pakistan and abroad, including in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, Canada, Bahrain, and Iran. His works are part of collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Style

Raza's early work was in realism and portraiture. He later adopted an abstract style incorporating cubist elements. His paintings often featured bright colour compositions and loose brushwork. Equestrian subjects became a prominent theme in his later exhibitions with depictions of horses in motion. He also produced calligraphic works focusing on line and texture, as well as figurative pieces that used fragmented forms and contrasting symbolic elements.

Awards

In August 2024, the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi held an event in his honour. One of his paintings had been on display there for four decades. Raza was awarded the Pride of Performance in 2007. Some sources state he received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2023, while others argue that the award was the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.