Ahmad Humayun – Artist and Graphic Designer

Ahmad Humayun

“Everything In Nature Has A Meaning. My Continuous Quest: To Find That Meaning, My Way, Has Resulted In Depicting Peace And Serenity, Light and Vibrancy.”

Ahmad Humayun, born inLahore,Pakistan, in 1940, studied fine art under the well-known Pakistani artist, A.B. Nazir ofKarachi.

While inPakistan, till 1965, he participated in several group shows, using oils as his main medium. His current interest is prominently in portraits, landscapes and still life. His earlier painting career inclined towards portraits and figure studies in pastels and watercolour.

Before assuming art as his full time passion in the more recent years, Ahmad was Head of the Publishing and Design Section of a Government Department. A member of the Canadian Society of Graphic Designers, he has considerable expertise in graphic arts and has won several prizes and awards for his design and graphics of publications in many categories. To name a few: covers of publications, brochures, other creative design awards, best printed booklet, best printed poster, and citation for distinguished service, etc.

Since his arrival inCanada, in 1965, some of his landscape scenes are depicted somewhat in the impressionist style, with many of them painted from real life scenes in and around the OttawaValley and Gatineau Hills. Private collections in Pakistan,Canada and the United Stateshold many of Ahmad Humayun’s works.

Ahmad’s artistic talent and natural interest is inborn and hereditary. His father, M. Abdul Ghani, was the Royal Painter with the Raja of Dharbhanga, north eastern India. In the court of the Raja he was required to paint portraits of the Raja’s family and courtiers, murals and other art for the palace walls. He then went toLahoreas Art Director for movie studios, working on movie sets in various parts of the country and providing art direction.

Ahmad Humayun was a toddler when his father died. His father’s entire art collection was destroyed during the independence of India, or is in unknown private, royal, and company collections. Ahmad’s natural art aptitude and talent manifested itself in his early childhood, unknown to him that he was following in his father’s famous footsteps.

Ahmad Humayun has held Group and Solo Shows through Rothwell Gallery, Ottawa, from 1979 through 1991.

He has been exhibiting at the Foyer Gallery, Ottawa, as a member artist since 2002, to date.

He was also selected as one of the Ottawa artists to exhibit at the 2005 Mayor’s Art Festival, Ottawa City Hall, from 14 to 16 October 2005.

Ahmad has exhibited and donated an oil painting titled Gloucester Cottage to the Canadian Red Cross’s Fundraiser Twelfth Annual Dinner and Auction, Fredericton, NB, 1 March 2002. In 2005 and 2006 he has also donated several large oil Calligraphy pieces to local charity groups as fundraisers, and some large oil florals, Blue Irises and Peonies and Wind Chimes to theOttawaHospital as a donation for the Heart Institute.