Humaira Abid

Humaira Abid
Humaira Abid
Born	Pakistan
Occupation	Contemporary artist
Years active	2000s–present
Known for	Wood sculptures, miniature paintings

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Humaira Abid, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 1 December 2025

Humaira Abid is a contemporary artist originally from Pakistan, who primarily works with wood. Her latest creations combine the intricate art of traditional miniature painting with wood sculpture, delving into women's experiences, connections, and societal taboos through a multicultural business lens.

Background

Since relocating to Seattle in 2008, Abid has concentrated her miniature paintings and wooden artworks on the lives of refugee women and wider female challenges. Growing up in Pakistan, where subjects such as menstruation and puberty were considered taboo, she strives to bring these topics into the open to empower women and diminish stigma.

Awards and exhibitions

Abid’s pieces have been displayed globally and covered by media outlets including the Seattle Times, the Stranger, KUOW Public Radio, and the Seattle Weekly. Her work has also appeared in the Stranger's Arts & Performances Quarterly magazine as well as the Huffington Post.

In 2012, her installation titled "Breakdown in the Closet" earned the International Museum of Women's Community Choice Award during the MAMA: Motherhood Around the Globe exhibition. Clare Winterton, the museum’s executive director, praised Abid’s art for highlighting complex narratives of women worldwide.

In 2014, she was awarded GAP funding from 4Culture and participated in the "Knock on Wood" Biennial at Bellevue Arts Museum.

The 2014 short documentary Heartwood: The Art of Humaira Abid, produced by Laila Kazmi and broadcast on PBS KCTS 9, featured her artistic journey.

Abid was selected as a finalist for the Art Innovator Award by Artist Trust in 2017.

Her exhibition "Searching for Home," curated by Jennifer-Navva Milliken, was held at the Center For Art and Wood from February through October 2020.

Selected solo exhibitions

2017 Searching for Home, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA
2016 The Dressing Room, START Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2015 Khaas Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
2013 Featured Artist at Aaina, Seattle Asian Arts Museum, Seattle, WA
2011 RED, ArtXchange Gallery, Seattle, WA
2010 Sculptures by Humaira Abid, Chawkandi Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2009–10 Lullaby exhibited at Rohtas II in Lahore; Khaas Art in Islamabad; Showcase Art Gallery in Dubai
2007 Love Games, Sandra Phillips Art Gallery, Denver, CO
2006 Inner Concerto, Canvas Art Gallery, Karachi
2004 Directions at V.M. Art Gallery Karachi
2004 Rose Relationships shown at Rohtas II Lahore and Khaas Art Gallery Islamabad
2003 Hidden Perspectives at Rohtas II Lahore

Selected group exhibitions

2016 NW ART NOW at Tacoma Art Museum, WA
2016 WHY WOOD: Contemporary Practices in Timeless Material Wood at SOFAEXPO Chicago, IL
2015 Exhibition by Khaas Art Gallery during ART15 London, UK
2015 Survey of contemporary northwest artists at King Street Station Seattle
2015 FEAT 2015 Artist Trust Fellowship Exhibit at Galvanize Seattle
2015 Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month exhibition at Bellevue City Hall
2014-15 Three-person Show and Knock on Wood Biennial at Bellevue Arts Museum
2013-14 Installation "Garden of Fertility" at Seattle Municipal Tower
2013 Women's Work: Culture and the Feminine at ArtXchange Gallery Seattle
2012 Celebrating 30 Years of Rohtas at National Art Gallery Islamabad
2012 Past and Present at Zahoor ul Akhlaque Gallery National College of Arts
2010–12 In Family Unity – Unity of the World traveling exhibition across Russia and Europe
2010 Women and Art 2010 at Sharjah Art Museum UAE
2009 Five Women Show at Rohtas II Lahore
2007 Group exhibitions held at National Art Gallery Islamabad and Kuona Trust Kenya
2005 Art For a Noble Cause Group Exhibition at Ejaz Art Gallery Lahore
2005 Contemporary Chronicles in Miniature – Pakistan and India shown at Art-Alive Gallery New Delhi
2005 Group Exhibition at Sarawak Museum Kuching Malaysia
2004 Group Exhibitions hosted by Ejaz Art Gallery Lahore and Partage International Artists' Exhibition Mauritius
2003 Scope X NCA Faculty Exhibition and Negotiating Borders: Contemporary Miniatures from Pakistan at Siddharta Art Gallery Kathmandu
2003 Group Exhibition at Canvas Gallery Karachi
2002 Group Exhibitions held at Rohtas I Islamabad and Rohtas II Lahore
2001 Group Exhibitions presented by Gallery NCA Lahore and Punjab Artists' Association Exhibition Lahore Arts Council
2009 Bolivia Art Biennial La Paz participation
2008 II International Wood Sculptors Symposium Annaberg-Buchholz Germany involvement
2007 2nd International Women Artists Workshop Kenya attendance
2006 Artist residency at Europos Parkas Museum of Central Europe Lithuania
2005 Sculpture Symposium Sarawak Museum Kuching Malaysia participation
2004 Artist residency with Garhi Artists' Studios Lalitkala Academy New Delhi
2004 Partage International Artists Workshop Flic en Flac Mauritius involvement

Works Included in Permanent Collections

Daetz Centre (Museum of Sculpture in Wood), Lichtenstein, Germany
National Art Gallery and Museum, Islamabad, Pakistan
Rangoon Wala Trust, V.M Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
Partage Contemporary Artists Association, Mauritius
Khas Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
Kuona Trust International, Nairobi, Kenya
Canvas Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
Sarawak Living Museum, Sarawak, Malaysia

External links

References