Ali Akbar is one of the brightest young stars to have emerged on the scene in recent years. An artist trained in the miniature tradition, Akbar graduated in Fine Arts from the National College of Art with honours in 2008, but his experience and initiative far outreaches the boundaries of an art institution. I first encountered him in the mid nineties at Jamil Naqsh’s home in Karachi. He was in his early teens, a boy determined to make his way in art and in common with Naqsh, Akbar Ali imbibed the discipline of the miniature tradition with the aspiration to continue the classic art from a contemporary viewpoint and revitalize the exquisite artform.

From childhood Akbar was fascinated by `line’; he drew and practiced calligraphy learnt from sign board writers in his area. His vocation has been fuelled and directed from many of the country’s leading artists. In Rahim Yar Khan, he met up with the artist Chitra who impressed by Akbar’s work, invited him to join him in Karachi. Chitra was a student of Jamil Naqsh and in Karachi he introduced Akbar Ali to the maestro. Though he was a student of Science at the Kairpur University, Akbar met and took advice from the city’s senior artists. In 2003, he left his studies and left for Lahore where he was fortunate to be guided by R.M.Naeem before taking admission at NCA in 2004.

The four years at NCA gave Akbar the experience he sought, he referred to the institute as a: “Heaven for Arts.” Eager to learn more of the world, he found a studio of his own in 2005, and revamped it as a gallery/café. There he ran classes and enjoyed meeting a diverse group of people. His ability soon caught the attention of his teachers and he was involved as part of a team assisting Jamal Shah on a large permanent sculpture project for the Tokyo Expo Centre, and was one of the team assisting Ustad Basher Ahmed in a roof based painting for the Centre. The energy and capacity for work saw that the artist did not neglect his class projects. His paintings were included in exhibitions in London, as well as Lahore and Islamabad.

Ali Akbar’s work was selected for an exhibition: Sacred Marks and Spaces, held at Gallery 11, Bradford University, UK.

Acclaimed and sought out as an exciting young talent, Ali Akbar’s work is unique. Observing diverse facets of his experience and surroundings he expresses a viewpoint that encompasses spiritual, emotional and corporeal issues in work of great beauty and distinction. Akbar Ali is a young man of his time. Now is the time to acquire his work.