Born in 1973 in Pakistan, Mughees Riaz is a nationally recognized artist, painter, and art educator based in Lahore. He was drawn to art from a young age, influenced by the strong artistic presence in both his immediate and extended family.
In 1992, Riaz formally began his art education at the Department of Fine Arts, University of the Punjab, Lahore, where he earned his BFA in 1997, MFA in 1999, and M.Phil in 2015.
Riaz is widely known for his landscape paintings, a genre that holds a special place in his heart. He considers the legendary landscape painter Khalid Iqbal both an early inspiration and a mentor. His own landscapes are not only aesthetically captivating renditions of the “play of light” but also offer viewers multiple layers of meaning.
Within the medium of painting, Riaz’s oeuvre includes still life, portraiture, drawings, and figurative compositions. Form plays a central role in his work, grounded in traditional pictorial fundamentals. However, he also integrates his signature symbolism to establish conceptual themes, inviting viewers to engage with their own interpretations.
He received the National Excellence Award (Visual Arts) at the 8th National Exhibition of Visual Arts, organized by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts in Islamabad in 2003. He currently serves as a permanent faculty member at the Institute of Art and Design.
Since 1999, Riaz has exhibited his work extensively through numerous solo exhibitions, including:
In addition to solo exhibitions, Riaz has participated in several prominent group shows, including:
Riaz’s work is held in numerous public and private collections both within Pakistan and internationally. He currently lives and works in Lahore.
