Fatima Nadia Rehman is an Arabic calligraphy artist, who now permanently lives in Dubai. She taught Arabic calligraphy in DUCTAC (first person to open Arabic calligraphy classes to all nationalities), undergraduate students, school children and gave a lecture of one of the only few Qurans left in the world under Sotheby’s and Christie’s at the Furjam Collection. She has also taught the royal family Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the artists of the divan of royal court of Oman. Although many of her works have been acquired by private art collectors, she has also been commissioned to produce artworks for the Royal Family of Abu Dhabi and Saudi, Galleries, Burj Khalifa, governmental organizations and five-star hotels which have her paintings on permanent display, including A.R.Rehman guitar, and works on porcelain and sculpture.She is also the winner of Al Ghurair public art commission, Marie Claire magazine inspirational women of UAE and 100 Women of UAE book.she is an entrepreneur and a visionary in the field of Arabic calligraphy and Islamic arts.
She studied in the United States in Visual Communication at the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Then moved to New York for further studies in Islamic Art History and also worked as a senior designer at the global advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi.
When returned to her native land to pursue a Double Master’s degree in Fine Arts at the National College of Arts in Lahore, specializing in Arabic Calligraphy (khat e thuluth) and Persian and Mughal miniatures. She focused on contemporary and traditional Islamic Miniatures and borders. Her teacher being the last ustad to have learnt Mughal miniatures under ustad shuja of the last Mughal emperors court. she was her teachers apprentice. Fatima practices classic Arabic Calligraphy and modern miniatures, her style is unique in the sense that it has been distinguished by a contemporary flare.
How did you arrive to be a great calligraphy artist and also a teacher of it?
When I moved to Dubai, I came up with the idea of opening classes of Arabic Calligraphy to all nationalities as I wanted this beautiful art to spread and people to enjoy art. Somehow I started getting a lot of calligraphy projects each unique in nature and in my journey I learnt a lot and improved a lot. From paintings to sculptures to ceramic.
The quality of your artworks is extraordinary. For this reason, you are close to the Royal Houses of Dubai and Abu Dhabi that really appreciate you not only as an artist, but as a teacher.
How was your experience with them?
I have had the royals as one of my best clients and have been very supportive in buying my paintings and also supporting and appreciation of my talent. I found most of them to extremely enlightened and very good people.
You have studied Visual Communication at the Art Institute of Philadelphia.
I would like to know more about this period and how it influenced you.
This period in the USA influenced me as a designer and have me a lot of knowledge into business and software. It gave me a very good experience of the world and art. My graphic design skills including photoshop help me a lot. The school was very tough but it groomed me a lot with international exposure.
Calligraphy is not easy to learn. You are my second artist specialized in this beautiful and hard art that I have had the pleasure to interview together with Raouf Meftah.
I know you are also collaborating with him. Can you be so kind to advance us about this?
Mr. Raouf was kind enough to ask me send my work so he may publish it. We have yet to collaborate on a project but I shall look forward to that in the near future.
Which difference are there between both?
We both are modern calligrapher. His work is very detailed and mine is free flowing.however it remains that calligraphy is on of the most difficult art forms in the world and I want to create unique things keeping I’m mind that we are in the 21st century.
You are an entrepreneur and a visionary in the field of Arabic calligraphy and Islamic arts. What value did you add to both?
I added value in terms of teaching, shoeing my students how to create paintings. Creating modern furniture to glass steel sculpture to coffee cups innovating new ways of showing islamic arts through Arabic Calligraphy.
You are a prestigious artist, but I think that you are more than an artist. A smart woman, interesting as professional and with a great future for next years.
How do you see yourself in the five or ten years?
I see myself as a woman, an artist who will take this art to heights by creating unique things, a professional who wants to create business ventures with people or teams using my talents in art and calligraphy.one of my aims is also transformable jewelry. My audience would be the world and it should speak to everyone.
One of the most common thing in all the artists that I have had the opportunity to interview is the spirituality they have. It is necessary to have this kind of essence inside to be a great artist?
Spirituality is either there or it comes through out the years as we live and learn. Spirituality is in people who are not artists but their soul is very nice.so yes in art I think automatically comes from within you as an artist.
COLLECTIONS, EXHIBITIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
COLLECTIONS
CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HH PRIVATE OFFICE. 2016 till date
Year of tolerance exhibition: wooden piece .aisha allabar gallery.dubai
ART FAIR ROME: Chosen to display painting in Rome. For artroom Rome. Rome 2019
GULF NEWS: Video of me called journey of a calligrapher. https://gulfnews.com/videos/news/the-journey-of-pakistani-calligrapher-nadia-rehman-1.1549191832623
CHAUMET FINE JEWELLERY: guest of chaumet Paris to attend their high jewellery exhibition for chosen vip clients in Paris. Paris. France 2018
A.R. REHMAN: presented guitar with calligraphy by Rumi personally to him as a present from Dubai. Dubai April 2018
EMAAR CHARITY AUCTION: painting of surah sold for charity for people with medical condition Alzheimer’s. Armani hotel, dubai
DUBAIPOST: new venture DUBAINS for HH sheikh Mohammed video for my work. http://www.dubaipost.ae/en/dubains/Fatima-rehman-keeping-calligraphy-alive-2017-03-16-1.912
ISLAMIC AZAD UNIVERSITY: Professor of arabic and Persian calligraphy. Taught painting,design and how calligraphy can be incorporated in arts along with typefaces. 2014 to 2016 dubai
AL BAYAN NEWSPAPER: special guest womens day
MARIE CLAIRE MAGAZINE: inspirational women f the U.A.E. article shoot in al Etihad museum
SHARJAH SCHOOL OF CALLIGRPAHY AND ORNAMENTATION:learnt turksh ornamentation, miniatures and art of making of Turkish 24 carat gold. Sharjah
LES TURC D ART,TOPKAPI: Studied divany jali script in Istanbul with calligraphy master. Istanbul,turkey
PRIVATE COLLECTOR: commissioned horses mural size painting. Germany
GALLERY ONE: abstract paintings for royal group. Abu Dhabi
LEVEL ONE KIDS: painting for children for the Ramadan theme with Arabic calligraphy. Dubai
ABEER AL OTAIBA: semsem luxury fashion line with Arabic calligraphy. www.semsem.com (in progress for new collection). Washington D.C..USA
GALLERY ONE: Commission for paintings for a private collector. Dubai.UAE
DIFC ART NIGHTS AND SIKKA: chosen by liu bolin (famous chines artist who camouflages himself with his backdrop) painted his suit matching the Islamic art backdrop from shiraz, iran.http://www.kleinsungallery.com/projects/the-dubai-arts-and-culture-authority-commissions-liu-bolin. Dubai.UAE
AHLAN ART: prints in the New York space. New York, London, Dubai.
ENVOGUE: Contemporary calligraphy housed , Dubai
ALTAYER GROUP: Prints Of Paintings In The Head Office Of Al Tayer. Dubai
BLOOMINGDALES: Exhibition Of Paintings With Live Calligraphy On Bags. Dubai
HARVEY NICHOLS: Calligrapher for VVIP Clients for fine jewelers. Dubai
DIVAN OF ROYAL COURT OMANI FINE ARTS SOCIETY: Invited to give workshops on Arabic calligraphy as an international artist for artists for the divan and other upcoming artists representing Oman worldwide. Muscat and Salalah. Oman
ARAB FASHION WEEK: “Royal Signature – Where Art Meets Fashion” This event is been incorporated within the first official Arab Fashion Week in Dubai. This “experience” will create a journey through contemporary Art. Art Installation of Arabic Calligraphy via projector showing patterns with calligraphy for dresses for international market. Dubai 2015 youtube: https://youtu.be/2VK6A1UxCKE
DYPTYQUE: Launch of new oud perfume, clients to come and also try out live arabic calligraphy painting with the artist. Dubai 2015
JO MALONE: New perfume launch with eid greetings written on ceramic tiles for each customer
ROSEWOOD HOTEL: Arabic Calligraphy workshop to all the new staff in the 5 star hotel along with presentation to welcome them to U.A.E. Abu Dhabi 2015
WINNER OF AL GHURAIR AND DUBAI CULTURE ART AUTHORITY PUBLIC ART: the art work will be permanently displayed in public in Dubai. it is a reflective glass steel sculpture of his highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s poetry called HAPPY
NATION.THE SCULPTURE IS CALLED ROYA MEANING VISION. Dubai 2015
LOUIS VUITTON : Cultural Training with Arab History and Arabic Calligraphy. Dubai 2015
AL MANZIL HOTEL: Calligraphy paintings. Dubai 2014
BAIT MUZNA GALLERY: Wood piece with calligraphy. Muscat. Oman 2014
PRIVATE COLLECTOR: Calligraphy with tea and 22k Gold, NEDERLANDS 2014
GUCCI : Calligraphy event for valentine’s day. Abu Dhabi 2014
HORSE PAINTING: Private Collection of Sheikha LATIFA BINT MANSOUR BIN ZAYED AL
NAHYAN(DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER UNITED ARAB EMIRATES). ABU DHABHI 2014
HORSE PAINTINGS
HORSES: Private Collection of PRINCE FAISAL AL SAUD OF SAUDI ARABIA.2013
WOOD PANELS WITH ARABIC POETRY: Commisioned for Private Collection by daughter of HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. Abu Dhabi 2013
CAMPUS ART DUBAI: 30 applicants chosen out of 300 to be part of the campus art dubai membership programme for 6 months.
WOMEN IN ART EXHIBITION: Courtyard gallery, horse paintings with a touch of calligraphy OPENING OF AL QUOZ ART NIGHTS .2013 Dubai, UAE
ROYAL PALM, ROYAL RESIDENCIA: 18ft painting of running stampede of horses. Lahore, Pakistan 2013
ABU DHABHI ISLAMIC BANKING FOR WOMEN2013:Calligraphy event for women for writing customized names for all customers.
STANDPOINT LOBBY 2012: Emaar project Burj Boulevard for the main lobby. Meditation series ink effects with gold.
ESTEE LAUDER STORE JO MALONE INSTORE CALLIGRAPHER 2012: 3 day instore event in the store for a new Arabic oud perfume. Calligraphy was written on all the boxes for people who bought any item from the store.
PORCELAIN WITH GOLD AND SILVER THULUTH CALLIGRAPHY 2012: His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s poetry on Arabic cups to be presented to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Sheikh khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the ruling family of abudhabi for Ramadan.
JEBEL ALI GOLF RESORT AND SPA 2012: peacock feather and peacocks for the peacock courtyard.
SPECIAL BOX WITH CALLIGRAPHY IN GOLD AND BLACK WITH 10 CUSTOM MADE
PERFUMES 2012:Presented by ZAYEDUNIVERSITY to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak(wife of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan)
WOMEN OF THE UAE 2012: Book published by an award winning photographer of 100 women who have achieved and contributed to the United Arab Emirates.
INDIAN NAMES CONVERTED TO ARABIC ON GOLD CANVAS FOR INDIAN CLIENT 2012: private collection
SYMPHONIAT AL HAROOF, 2012: Calligraphy works with all men calligraphers, including Khaled Al Saaionly women to have her painting of modern AITALQURSI. Bait MuznaGallery, Muscat, Oman.(owned by HER HIGHNESS SUSAN AL SAID)
THE MILLENNIUM HOTEL , 2012: 60 prints from originals, abstracts with Allah’s names in gold. Jeddah. SAUDI ARABIA
NAMES ON VELVET WITH GOLD 2012: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s grandchildren on suede with photographs and hand prints in pottery
ABU DHABI CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR, saadiyaat island 2011.Exhibited calligraphy called “sunset” through Bait al Muzna Gallery. Muscat, Oman.
THE ROYAL GARDEN , 2011.Old miniature with Emperor Jahangir’s garden specially painted with the families faces for the Royal family of Abu Dhabi, Private collection.Abu Dhabi.U.A.E.(NOT ALLOWED TO BE SHOWN IN THE PORTFOLIO)
PERMANENT COLLECTION OF THE BURJ KHALIFA 2011:Modern Arabic Letters 76TH FLOOR.
WOMEN IN ART: 2010.Group show at The Courtyard Gallery, Dubai, UAE
PALMS, SEA SHELLS, PEACOCK FEATHER AND PEACOCKS 2011.Jebel Ali Golf resort and spa. Executive suites and Standard rooms
RANDOM LETTERS, 2011. FOR IMAGENATION’S FILM SET FOR THE MOVIE “DJINN”.The Master of Horror — Tobe Hooper — the director behind the legendary classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre as well as the three-time Academy Award-nominated, Steven Spielberg-produced Poltergeist, will helm Imagenation Abu Dhabi’s Arabian horror film Djinn.
INDEX SHOW DUBAI LIVE CALLIGRAPHER FOR JAMJAR 09,10,11: Live calligraphy painting at the booth.
DIFFERENT WAYS OF WRITING BISMILLAH, 2011.Three circles showing modern, middle and old way of writing calligraphy.Private Collection of HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
MYSTERIOUS LETTERS ON WOOD 2011: private collection
SEA PEARLS2011.Calligraphy works on aluminium commissioned by Hotel JAL Tower for their Arabic seafood restaurant, Al Muhallab,Dubai, UAE.
AL-HAMD 2011.Zen style black ink square with a red triangle in which Alhamdulillah is filled with gold.
THE HORSE, 2010.Auctioned off by the Dubai Rotary Club in a charity event in aid of children’s educationheld at the Atlantis Hotel, Dubai, UAE.
ILLUSIONS, 2010.Reprints of 22 original calligraphy paintings.Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
MODERN ARABIC LETTERS, 2010.Modern lines in greys with floating Arabic letters, Private collection, Washington DC, USA.
WAVES,2010.Circular motion disappearing into blue and green calligraphy.Private collection, Dubai, UAE.
KALIMAAT: 2009.Group show exhibition at Dubai Community Arts Centre, Dubai, UAE.
MIXED THOUGHTS, 2009. Variation of different styles of calligraphy layered on top of each other in brilliant colours. Private collection,London, UK.
DIMENSIONS, 2009.Circles and triangles form a Kuficomposition.Private collection, Karachi, Pakistan.
JOY AND SORROW, 2008.Miniature with a woman in red smiling while another is sitting and playing an instrument.Private collection, Tehran, Iran.
THE STORM, 2005.Miniature painting. Private collection of Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan (2001-2008).
