Shazia Imran

Biography

With over 29 years of experience in the creative arts, Sydney-based artist and sculptor Shazia Imran is celebrated for her expressive mixed media pieces. Her distinctive work has earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Lorenzo il Magnifico Award at the Florence Biennale (2015), the Applied Arts Award at the London Biennale (2017), the Most Collectible Artist Award at the Shenzhen City Art Fair, First Prize at the 2018 Chianciano Biennale, and the 2nd Prize International Confederation of Art Critics Award at the 2019 London Biennale. Additionally, she has received multiple national awards in Australia.

Shazia’s art has been exhibited globally and features in public and private collections across Australia, the USA, the UK, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Canada, Dubai, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, China, Japan, and Singapore.

One of her career highlights includes a significant commission for VIP accommodations, The Mansion, at the MGM Hotel in Macau. Her works are also held in the collection of Rajamangala University, Thailand, and by His Highness Sheikh Juma Bin Ahmed Bin Juma Al Maktoum. Internationally, her work is sought after as an investment, particularly in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Shazia graduated with Distinction from the National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore in 1994 and later completed a Master of Design in Digital Media from the University of Western Sydney (UWS) in 2004. She has also undertaken additional courses at the National Art School (NAS) and UNSW in Sydney.

Her career spans diverse creative fields, including digital strategy development, website and intranet content management in the NSW Government sector, e-commerce marketing, advertising, and promotions in multinational agencies. Despite a successful corporate career, Shazia’s passion for art remained unwavering, leading her to pivot toward professional artistry after an invitation to the New York Art Expo in 2013. This pivotal moment launched a series of successful international shows.

Today, Shazia owns a studio and gallery in The Rocks, a historic precinct in Sydney near the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. She is the first female artist to establish a personal gallery in this iconic location, surrounded by acclaimed Australian artists.

Shazia’s work is inspired by her travels, where she explores the infinite expressiveness of her subjects through collage, acrylics, and mixed media. Her compositions integrate monograms and fine-printed paper from various cultural traditions, layered atop expressionist painting foundations. These vibrant, overlapping elements evoke dreamscapes, memories, and unity, meticulously crafted with textiles and collage. Her art resonates with themes of identity, urban landscapes, and cultural connection, offering a profound and multifaceted visual experience.

Discover the breathtaking figurative cityscape paintings by Shazia Imran, now available for purchase at Signet Contemporary Art and online. Experience their captivating beauty from the comfort of your home, or visit our London gallery to view these exceptional works in person.

“Art and design is something I’m very passionate about. Use of colour, shape, texture and light defines my style in capturing the personality and emotions of the subject.

My inspiration and influence comes from everything I see, feel and experience around me.

The delicately multilayered paintings I create, explore the connections between landscape, memory and the subconscious through texture and the interplay of light and dark, creating an atmosphere that opens itself up to multiple meanings.

My recent body of work is based on the mandala – representing the wholeness and unity of mankind. Representing the universe itself, the mandala is both microcosm and macrocosm and we all are part of it. No matter what region, race or religion we belong to, we are all same we are all humans.”- Shazia Imran