Jawad Ahmed Jan was born on 19 March 2000 in Lyari, Karachi, Pakistan. The son of a respected artist, he developed an interest in art early in life and began painting at age 10. In 2017, his painting of Morgan Freeman went viral and was published on social media and in journals across borders.

Education

Jan completed his Matriculation in 2016. He was awarded a scholarship in 2018 and graduated with Honours in Fine Arts from the Arts Council Institute of Arts and Craft (ACIAC), Karachi, in 2022. He also completed certification as a jewellery designer (Gemvision Matrix Gold software) in 2019–2020.

Practice

Jan is a visual artist specializing in miniature technique, with experience across oil painting, acrylics, graphite, watercolour, and calligraphy. He has 10 years of experience in creative visual skills, writing, and art studio practice, including 6 years of apprenticeship at Shahid Rassam's studios, and 1 year of experience in jewellery designing at IBL.

Exhibitions

Jan's exhibitions include his Final Year Thesis Show at the Arts Council of Pakistan, and group shows at Sambara Art Gallery and VM Art Gallery. He participated in "Broadcast" at O Art Space, "Eclectic Mix 3.0" (curated by Adeel Uz Zafar) at Sanat Initiative, "Asli Contemporary" and "Other Beings" at Numaish Gah Art Gallery, "Shaping Figures" (curated by F.S. Karachiwala) at Art Scene Gallery, "Figure 24" at Gallery 6, Islamabad, "Lucid Figures" (curated by Muhammad Zeeshan), "Collective Presence" at Sanat Gallery, and "Geometry of Canopies" (curated by Muhammad Zeeshan) at Ejaz Gallery. He exhibited internationally in "Sincerely Yours" at Curated Frame Gallery, London.

Awards

Jan's awards include "Aks e Lyari" and "Princess of Hope" from Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University, Lyari (2018); 2nd place at Arts Council Karachi's Youth Festival (2019); 2nd place in the Arts Council Institute of Arts and Crafts final exam certification; 3rd place in the World Heritage Art Festival, representing Nepal-Bhutan-Bangladesh (2021); and an award for figurative paintings in the emerging category from Nigaah Art Magazine.