Pakistani Paintress Impresses New York Art World

New York-based artist Shahzia Sikander has achieved international acclaim for her diverse body of works, which range from miniature-size paintings to room-size installations … In the mid-1990s, her early works prompted curators and critics everywhere to align Sikander with many other artists whose work dealt with themes of personal and cultural identity. She was included in the renowned Whitney Biennial in 1997, just two years after earning her master of fine arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design, and since has participated in major exhibitions in New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, as well as in Canada, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Australia and her native Pakistan. Sikander first became known for works that derived from her study of traditional Indian miniature painting, an art form that flourished from the second half of the 17th century onward, but originated in the 11th century. In just 10 years.