About me

Celebrating culture on canvas, by interweaving traditional South Asian fabrics, namely the ‘Dupatta’ (scarf) into contemporary realistic oil paintings that share stories to inspire, connect, and welcome insightful dialog with communities.

Shabana’s parents emigrated from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, to the UK and raised a family in the suburbs of London. Her father worked in the steel industry. While her mother raised 5 kids, she used the skills she had been taught in Pakistan, and began her business of sewing traditional South Asian clothes for the community. In Central London Shabana achieved her degrees, a BSc in Business IT and a MSc in Information Management. She worked in the corporate world before her husband was presented with a work opportunity in the US. In 2008, Shabana moved from Central London UK, to the US, and settled in Fayetteville Arkansas. Through the frustrating immigration laws, and while being unable to legally work for 7 years, she finally discovered her love for creating. This journey opened up a new way to connect with people and it inspired her to create a body of work that explores the South Asian identity through the use of traditional fabrics. She now shares her story and culture on canvas with communities throughout the country.  

In 2017 she formally introduced her work and enjoyed her very first gallery exhibit. Since then, Shabana has rapidly progressed, and has collectors throughout the US. Some of her notable exhibits include 21c Museum, a solo exhibit at Baker University in Kansas, and Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, AR. She was also contracted by Crystal Bridges Museum for community engagement projects. Shabana has participated in The Other The Art Fair, in partnership with Saatchi art, in Dallas and Chicago. She has held formal lectures at various venues, where she shares her inspiration and story of immigration. Shabana attended the University of Arts London, St. Martin’s College in the UK, and also completed the Artist Inc program that is organized by the Mid-American Arts Alliance. She was awarded the Arkansas ‘2023 Individual Artist Fellowship Award’ . That very same year, Shabana completed a sponsored Artist residency at The Medium in Springdale, AR.

Shabana has been featured in a number of press releases. Some notable ones include Northwest AR Alive (Emmy nominated ABC TV series) where she had a solo interview, Little Rock Soiree Magazine, Arkansas Times, KUAF Radio, CitiScapes Magazine, Arkansas Arts Scene Blog, Fox/KNWA News, Seema Network located in India and New Jersey, and Studio Visit Magazine where she was featured on the cover. Stay up to date with all the latest news and connect on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.