Waseem Ahmed was born in 1976 in Hyderabad, Pakistan. He pursued his formal education in the arts at the National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, where he graduated with honors in Miniature Painting in 2000. He currently lives and works in Lahore, Pakistan.

Artistic Practice and Style
Waseem Ahmed is among the pioneering figures of the contemporary miniature painting movement that emerged in Lahore in the early 2000s. While rooted in the rigorous traditions of classical miniature, Ahmed has redefined the genre through a contemporary lens, blending age-old techniques with innovative stylistic and conceptual approaches. His work is known for its creative ingenuity and refined craftsmanship.

Working predominantly on Wasli paper, Ahmed employs traditional materials such as gouache, natural pigments, silver and gold leaf. His compositions, often featuring the human figure, are charged with commentary on socio-political boundaries, identity, history, and conflict. Drawing from both Eastern and Western mythology and history, his visual narratives explore the cultural dissonances and continuities of the modern world.

Exhibitions and International Recognition
Since 2000, Waseem Ahmed has exhibited extensively in both solo and group exhibitions across the globe. His works have been shown in countries including Pakistan, the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Greece, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Italy, and France, among others.
Notable participations include:

Karachi Biennale (2019)

Kathmandu Triennale (2017)

He has also taken part in numerous national and international workshops and residency programs, furthering his engagement with global art dialogues.

Collections and Auctions
Waseem Ahmed's works are part of prestigious private and public collections. Notably, his work is held by:

Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Germany

The British Museum, London, United Kingdom

His art has been featured in major international auctions at Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Bonhams since 2008.

Professional Roles and Recognition
In recognition of his contribution to the arts, Waseem Ahmed was appointed as a Nominator for the Sovereign Asian Art Prize in 2017, a role that reflects his influence within the contemporary South Asian art scene.


Publications and Critical Reception
Ahmed’s work has been widely discussed and featured in academic and art publications, including:

Christine Bruckbauer, “How Come Vajrapani Meet Taliban Warrior in the Woods of North India?”, Indo-Asiatische Zeitschrift, 2015

Salima Hashmi, The Eye Still Seeks: Pakistani Contemporary Art, Penguin Books India, 2015

Katrin Bettina Müller, “Die Wiederkehr der heiligen Krieger”, TAZ.DIE TAGESZEITUNG, 2014

Virginia Whiles, Art, and Polemic in Pakistan: Cultural Politics and Tradition in Contemporary Miniature Painting, Tauris Academic Studies, 2010

Ali Salwat, Journeys of the Spirit: Pakistan Art in the New Millennium, FOMMA & PNCA, 2008

Athar Tahir, Pakistan Colors, Oxford University Press, 2001

David Rukhsana, Contemporary Miniature Painting in Lahore 1980–2007, Lahore College for Women University, 2007.