Mehreen Hashmi, a Fine Arts graduate from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, is an interdisciplinary visual artist and curator based in Karachi, Pakistan. She curated Pakistan’s first Karachi Art Summit in 2017 and has exhibited her work internationally in London, Denmark, Beirut, Netherlands, Nepal, Germany, and Yanjiao Biennale, China. Her art has been reviewed by notable Pakistani art critics and featured in various countries. As a curator, she has worked with prestigious organizations such as the Culture Department, Government of Sindh, and Alliance Francaise de Karachi, initiating projects focused on cultural exchange, public art, and curatorial activism in Pakistan and Europe. Mehreen has been honored with awards including the Prince Claus Mobility Fund and ‘Millennial of Inspirations’.
- Education
- 2009, Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, placed with honors.
- Curatorial
- 2022, Ahang, Pakistan Pavilion, The Wrong Biennale.
- 2021,’Aks-e-Sindh’, organized by Culture Department, Government of Sindh.
- 2020, ‘Ahang 2020’, group show of Asian artists, 11th Karachi Literature Festival.
- 2020, ‘Tashkeel’, at Gallery One62, Karachi.
- 2019, ‘Kabutar’, cultural exchange traveling exhibition, Alliance Francaise de Karachi, Pakistan and Villa Brentano, Busto Garolfo, Italy.
- 2019, ‘Ahang’, Traveling exhibition of artists from Asia, at Pakistan National Council of Arts, Islamabad, Alliance Francaise de Lahore, and Alliance Francaise de Karachi.
- 2018, ‘Sounds of Violence’, a project by Daniel Ploeger, The Netherlands, in Karachi, Pakistan
- 2018,’ From here to there, ArtKaam Gallery, Karachi
- 2018, ‘Asia Peace Film Festival, Karachi Edition
- 2018, ‘May we not go up there’, Studio 7, Karachi
- 2017, ‘Munaqqash’, a public art project by I AM Karachi at National Museum.
- 2017, Chief Curator, Karachi Art Summit.
- 2016, ‘Global Videos’, Global event in collaboration with Stitching White Cube, Netherlands.
- April 2016, ‘Sangat’, hosted by the Culture and Tourism Department, Government of Sindh, at the National Museum of Pakistan.
- March 2016, “Arq”, in collaboration with the Culture and Tourism Department, Government of Sindh, at Gallery Alliance Francaise de Karachi.
- November 2015, “Birwa”, Sadeqain Gallery, KMC Department, Government of Sindh.
- December 2014, “Show Down-Epreuve De Force”, Alliance Francaise de Karachi.
- February 2014, ‘Raison de etre”, Gallery Alliance Francaise de Karachi.
- August 2013 to 2020,”Paywasta Reh Shajar Se”, a non-profit educational art project for children.
- Group exhibitions
- 2022, DISTANT SUFFERING | Kite flying by Hans Overlvliet, headquarters institute for Palestine studies in Beirut | Palestine Hall
- 2022, Excelsior, An international collaborative quarantine art film, New York, US.
- 2021, First Yanjiao Biennale, China.
- 2020, ‘Made in Minds II’, Gallery MCube, Lalitpur, Nepal.
- 2019, the National Exhibition at Alhamra Arts Center, Lahore.
- 2018, ‘Kites’, by Hans Overvliet, RuimteCaesuur, Vlissingen, The Netherlands
- 2018, ‘May we not go up there’, Studio 7, Karachi
- 2017, ‘Modern Panic VIII’, curated by James Elphic, Guerilla Zoo, Apiary Studios, London, UK.
- 2017, ‘Eilaand Hopping’, curated by Jeroen Van Paassen, Staadkantein, Alkmaar.
- 2017, “AiRO residency “, online international residency by Cold bench.
- 2017, “Duizend Bommen en Granaten” , Kunsthal 45, Den Helder , Netherlands.
- 2016, “Global Art Village’, Stichting White Cube, Landshut, Germany, Zandaam, Netherlands and Copenhagen, Denmark.
- 2015,”Basiliq”, Sadeqain Gallery, Frere Hall, Karachi.
- 2014, ‘Live Auction’, Islamic Museum of Art, Australia.
- 2013, “Collaboration”, Zahur-ul-Ikhlaq Gallery.
- 2012, “Coordinated Linear motions”, VM gallery.
- 2010, “Surface Linings”, KSA art gallery.
- 2010, “Emerging Talent”, VM art gallery.
- Awards and acknowledgments
- 2019, ‘Karachi Tum se Hai’ series award ‘Icon of honor’ , to acknowledge project ‘Kabutar’ by Alpha Web TV and Advertising
- 2019, ‘Speaker’, Identity Pakistan, a social patriotic initiative by Rurals Inc.
- 2018, ‘Millennial of Inspiration’, Ladies Funds by Dawood Global Foundation.
- 2017, Successful execution of Heidelberg inspired Project ‘Munaqqash’ by I am Karachi.
- 2017, Judge of 6th Art Beat National competition and exhibitions by the Little Art.
- 2017, Prince Claus artist mobility grant.
- 2015, ‘Art Commendation Award’, Ladies Funds by Dawood Global Foundation.
- 2014, Certificate of acknowledgement from Islamic Museum of Australia.
- 2009, Rangoonwala Fine Art Thesis Scholarship Award.
- Interviews and reviews
- 2023, Profile interview, ‘Mehreen Hashmi’, Architecture interiors, Art Space by Solmaz Regi.
- 2021, Profile interview, ‘Mehreen Hashmi, Rising from the colors.’ by Alizeh Akbar,
- 2020, Profile interview, The Azb ‘Mehreen Hashmi, Art curator and artist’.
- 2019, ‘Marking myself a survivor’, Haya Sehgal, Daily Times.
- 2020, ‘Voice of Art’, A conversation with Mehreen Hashmi, by Emaan Saleem, Art MAG.
- 2018, ‘Artist and Curator Mehreen Hashmi Gives a Voice to Survivors of Abuse’, The Healing Power of art and artists.
- 2017, ‘Munaqqash unveiled at National Museum’, Dawn newspaper.
- 2016, “Achievers honored at Ladies Fund Awards”, The News International.
- 2015, Profile interview by Manizhe Ali, Glam Magazine.
- 2015,” Birwa opens at Gallery Sadeqain’ by Peerzada Salman, Dawn newspaper.
- 2015, “Basileeq, Five artists at the Sadeqain Gallery’ by Marjorie Hussain, MAG Magazine.
- 2015,” The bold and the beautiful” by M.Saeed Qureishi, Dawn newspaper, November.
- 2015, “Basaleeq at Gallerie Sadeqain” by Peerzada Salman, Dawn.
- 2015,”Of rituals and taboos passed on” by correspondence, Express Tribune.
- 2014,”Picasso and the blue dogs by Peerzada Salman,Dawn newspaper.
- 2013, “Students’ art show concludes” by Peerzada Salman, Dawn.
- 2011, “On-the –spot” by Rida Sakina,Express Tribune.
- 2011, “Liner Art; Language of the line” by Fariha Nasir, Dawn.
- 2011, “Showcasing graduate art by Salwat Ali, Dawn newspaper.
- 2010, “Girls Definitely Can”, interview by Khuzaima Fatima Haque, SHE Magazine.
- Publications
- 2018, ‘Cultural exchange through Goethe-Institut’, Nigaah Magazine, Edition-74.
- 2018, ‘A divine calling; a solo show of Sana Nezam’, Nigaah Magazine, Edition-73.
- 2017, ‘Spirit of Visual’, The ArtZine, a magazine by The Artling.
- 2017,’ Karachi Art Summit 2017; Curatorial challenges’, Nigaah Magazine, Edition-72.
- 2017, ‘Making public an element of his art work, works of Obaid-ur-Rehman’, Nigaah Magazine, Edition-71.
- 2017, ‘Munaqqash ; an on-going public art project at National Museum’, Nigaah Magazine, Edition-70
Mehreen Hashmi 