Saeed Ahktar

Date of Birth: 1938-01-01 in Gakkhar, Pakistan.

City: Lahore

Qualification: 1980-81 Academia de-Bele Arti, Perugia, Italy 1960-64 National College of Arts, Lahore Pakistan Accolades 2012 President’s Award Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) 1998 First Prize, National Exhibition of Calligraphy, Pakistan National Council of the Arts, Islamabad 1997 Fellow of National College of Arts, Lahore 1994 The President’s Award Tamgha-e Husn-e Karkardagi (Pride of Performance) Presidency, Islamabad 1987 Chughtai Award, First Biennial, Lahore 1984 First Prize, National Exhibition of Paintings, Lahore - First prize, Senior Group, Tarbela in Paintings, Pakistan Culture Association 1982 First Prize, National Exhibition of Paintings, Islamabad 1979 Second Prize, Contemporary Punjab Council, Lahore 1963-64 Second Prize, All Pakistan Book-Jacket Competition, Lahore - First Prize in Painting, All Pakistan Inter-collegiate Paintings and Sculpture Exhibition, Engineering University, Lahore 1962 First Prize, Painting and Photography Exhibition, Quetta 1961-62 Distinction Shields in Drawing and Painting, National College of Arts, Lahore.

    Recipient of Pakistan’s esteemed civilian awards Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) 2012, Tamgha-e Husn-e Karkardagi (Pride of Performance) 1994 and Fellow of National College of Arts Lahore, Prof. Saeed Akhtar is among the most celebrated contemporary artists of Pakistan. He has played an iconic role in the promotion of art and art education in Pakistan. His hard work, dedication and perseverance in disciplines of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture have inspired generations of Pakistani artists, marking his lifelong meritorious contributions. The subject of comprehensive monographs published in 2009, 2011 and 2015 from Lahore, his work adorns prestigious public and private collections all over the globe. The content of Saeed Akhtar’s work has mostly been aimed to put on view, man’s quest for the Divine amidst sheer mortality. Richly consistent yet inventive in nature, his drawings and paintings seem to depict tools for celestial intervention along with crafting vessels to hold the transient moment. His sensibilities of form, texture and colour define his oeuvre lending any medium that he uses, a pulsating emotive quality.

Founded in 1966, Saeed Akhtar Studio (SAS) is the workplace for the artist, located in Johar Town, Lahore. Along with hosting summer workshops that are held annually for children and adults at SAS, the space houses a comprehensive representation of Prof. Saeed Akhtar's practice.

 

Commissions and Acquisitions

2002 Governor House Lahore, Karachi
1989-99 Pioneers of Freedom (27 postage stamps), The Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Pakistan Resolution, issued: August 14
1998 Quaid-e-Azam (relief), One Rupee Coin, issued: August 14
1992 Jahangir Khan and Imran Khan (busts); Wrestler(relief) , Olympic Museum, Lahore
1989 Calligraphic Painting, Pakistan Union Post Office, Bern - Allama Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Moulvi Abdul Haq (portraits), Lahore Museum
1988 Quaid-e-Azam , Republic Day Parade, Rawalpindi
1984 National Art Gallery, Islamabad
1982 Lahore Museum
1980 History of Pakistan Air Force (mural), Pakistan Air Force Base, Risalpur
1979 Quaid-e-Azam (relief), Centenary Medal, Armed Forces of Pakistan, Rawalpindi - Chiefs of Army and Air Staff, Chairman of Joint Army Staff and Commander of Staff College (portraits), Quetta, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Mangala and Risalpur
1967-92 Quaid-e-Azam ( portraits), Presidency, Prime Minister House, National Assembly and State Bank Building, Islamabad; Provincial Assemblies, Punjab and Baluchistan; Cabinet Room, Karachi - Eminent Personalities of Indo-Pakistan (portraits), Prime Minister Secretariat and State Guest House, Rawalpindi
1975 The Heads of State (portraits), Islamic Summit Conference, Lahore
1970 Sir Adamjee (portrait), Adamjee House, Karachi
1969 Shaheeds (portraits), Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul
1968 State University, New York - Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC - Library of Congress, Washington DC
1967 West Pakistan High Court (emblem), Lahore
1966 Armed Forces Museum, Rawalpindi - Punjab Arts Council, Lahore 
1963 Abby Grey Foundation, Minneapolis

Solo Exhibitions

2015 Saeed Akhtar Studio, Lahore
2011 Artscene Galleries, Karachi
2009 Ejaz Galleries, Lahore
1998 Kunj Art Gallery, Karachi
1997 Symphony in Colour, National College of Arts, Lahore
1991 Nairang Art Gallery, Lahore
1979 The Night Studies, Art Centre, Lahore
1971 Exhibition of Portraits, The American Centre, Lahore
1966 Pakistan Arts Council, Lahore - The Gallery, Karachi 

Group Exhibitions

2017 National Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Islamabad
2014 Sydney-Lahore: Prints from the Collections of Cicada Press and Saeed Akhtar Studio, Saeed Akhtar Studio, Lahore – 1st International Print Biennial, V. M. Gallery, Karachi
2008 Colors of Paradise, Muscat, Oman
2006 Dialogue, Nitanjali Art Gallery, Delhi, in collaboration with Ejaz Galleries, Lahore, ITC Maurya Sheraton & Towers, New Delhi
2005 South Korea Art Festival, Seoul
2003 The Spirit of Asia, Mat Woo Hoe Corporation, Seoul
1981-97 Scope III to VII, National College of Arts, Lahore
1994 Painters from Pakistan, South East Asian Museum, Pasadena, California
1992 Pakistan Contemporary, SAARC Festival, New Delhi
1991 Pioneers of Freedom, Alhamra Art Council, Lahore- Exhibition of Paintings, National Art Galleries, Lahore
1987 Exhibition of Drawings, Alhamra Art Council, Lahore
1982 Paintings from Pakistan, Hirshhorn Museum, Washington DC - Horse and Rider, National College of Arts, Lahore - Naqsh-i-Shair, 100th Birthday of Allama Iqbal, National College of Arts, Lahore
1980 Lahore Contemporaries, Shakir Ali Museum, Lahore
1979 Contemporary 1979, Lahore Museum
1976 Drawings by Six Artists, American Centre, Lahore
1970 The Gallery, Karachi
1968 Prints, Washington State University, Washington DC - Jashn-i-Hunar, Pakistan Arts Council, Lahore
1967-68 Armed Forces at Work, Pakistan Arts Council, Lahore - Pakistani Printmakers, Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC
1967 Contemporary Art Gallery, Rawalpindi
1966 Artisans at work, Pakistan Arts Council, Lahore 
1965 RCD Biennale, Tehran - Young Painters Exhibition, Contemporary Art gallery, Rawalpindi
1963-64 Communication through Art, National College of Arts, Lahore