Field Review | Artist Interview Series
In conversation with
Mohsin Rasheed
Mohsin Rasheed is a Pakistani landscape artist and educator, born and raised in Sargodha. He holds a Bachelor's degree
in Fine Arts from University of Sargodha. His artistic practice is deeply rooted in his love for the natural world, and he finds
inspiration in the majestic landscapes of his homeland.
As a lecturer in Fine Arts at Cadet College, Mohsin Rasheed is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of artists and art
enthusiasts. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of creative expression, technical skill, and critical thinking.Through his art, Mohsin Rasheed has exhibited his work in various local, national and international exhibitions, receiving acclaim for his unique perspective and mastery of color and light. His artistic journey is a continuous exploration of the beauty and wonder of the world around us.
From:
Pakistan
Artist Statement
As a landscape artist, Mohsin Rasheed, seek to capture the essence of the natural world, exploring the intricate
relationships between light, color, and form. Mohsin's work is a reflection of my fascination with the ever-changing beauty of the world around us, and the emotions it evokes. Through his art, his aim to transport viewers to serene and contemplative spaces, inviting
them to pause and appreciate the splendor of the landscape.
Tell us about yourself and your artistic background.
My name is Mohsin Rasheed, and I am a Landscape Artist and Art Educator. I have been teaching Fine Arts and Painting for approximately 10 years at Cadet College.
Along with my teaching practice, I have also been actively involved in promoting art at a national level. I have organized and conducted the All Pakistan Painting Competition for its 9th edition, where I also served as the Convenor. Through this platform, my aim has been to encourage emerging artists and promote contemporary art practice across Pakistan.
Art has been a passion of mine since childhood. I come from a family with a strong artistic background—my siblings are also artists. This creative influence has been a gift from my mother’s side, while my father was a businessman and not directly involved in the arts. However, the artistic sensitivity and inspiration within my family played a major role in shaping my journey.
Currently, I am dedicated to both creating landscape paintings and contributing to art education. My goal is to continue promoting art and supporting young artists in developing their creative potential.
How would you describe your artistic practice?
My artistic practice is primarily focused on landscape painting, where I explore the relationship between nature, atmosphere, and emotion. I am deeply interested in capturing the changing moods of natural environments—light, color, texture, and spatial depth play a central role in my work.
I work through both observation and interpretation, often blending realistic elements with expressive handling of paint to create a sense of atmosphere rather than just a literal view. Nature for me is not only a subject but also a source of reflection and emotional connection.
Alongside my studio practice, I am also an art educator, and teaching has become an important part of my artistic journey. It allows me to stay engaged with new ideas, encourage experimentation, and continuously refine my own understanding of form and composition.
Overall, my practice balances personal exploration with education and art promotion, with a consistent focus on landscape as a means of expressing visual and emotional depth.
What themes or ideas are most important in your work?
The most important themes in my work are nature, atmosphere, and emotional connection to the landscape. I am particularly drawn to the quiet dialogue between light, land, and sky, and how these elements change with time and mood.
I often explore themes of tranquility, memory, and belonging—how natural spaces hold emotional weight and personal meaning. Rather than simply depicting scenery, I aim to express the feeling of being within a place, capturing its mood and atmosphere.
Another key idea in my practice is the relationship between reality and interpretation. While my work is rooted in observation, I also allow space for expressive color, texture, and composition to convey emotion and depth beyond what is physically seen.
Overall, my paintings reflect a continuous exploration of nature as both a visual subject and a source of inner reflection.
What inspires your creative process?
My creative process is mainly inspired by the landscapes that surround me and the quiet changes within them, shifting light, weather, and atmosphere. I’m drawn to moments that feel ordinary at first glance but reveal a deeper emotional presence when observed closely.
Walking through natural spaces often gives me ideas for composition and mood, especially the way landforms interact with sky and light. Memory also plays an important role, sometimes what I paint is not just what I see, but what I’ve felt in a place over time.
Overall, nature is my primary inspiration, and it continuously shapes the way I see, feel, and create in my work.
Can you tell us about a recent artwork or project?
Recently, I worked on a landscape painting inspired by a quiet, semi-dry natural scene where water once flowed but has now become subtle and fragmented in form. The composition focused on the relationship between dry textures, sparse vegetation, and the memory of movement within the land.
I wanted to capture a sense of stillness rather than drama, how nature holds traces of change even when nothing is actively happening. The brushwork was kept loose in some areas and more controlled in others to create contrast between decay and life.
At the moment, I am also preparing for a solo landscape exhibition. Once the work is completed and the right time comes, I plan to present it as a full solo show. My aim is to develop this exhibition at an international standard, so it can communicate my practice on a broader, global level.
What challenges have influenced your development as an artist?
Throughout my artistic journey, several challenges have played an important role in shaping my development as an artist. One of the key challenges has been balancing my responsibilities as an educator with my personal studio practice.
Another important challenge in my context is that art does not receive the level of importance and awareness that it does in many other parts of the world, such as Europe, the UK, and the United States. Because of this, artists in Pakistan often face limited appreciation and fewer structured opportunities. In my position, I have consistently tried to respond to this gap by organizing art workshops, painting competitions, and art residencies. I have been working on these initiatives for almost 9–10 years, with the aim of creating awareness and encouraging people to understand and value art.
However, this remains a significant challenge, as there is still a lack of general awareness about what art truly is and what role it plays in society. At times, it requires continuous effort to educate people and promote the importance of art within the community.
Despite these challenges, I have continued to remain active in both my personal practice and in the promotion of art. I see these difficulties not as obstacles, but as a responsibility to contribute toward building a stronger art culture in my country.
Overall, each challenge has contributed positively to my growth, making my practice more focused, resilient, and socially engaged.
What role does art play in your life today?
Art plays a very important and defining role in my life today. It is not only my profession but also the reason behind my identity and recognition as an artist. Through my work, I have been able to build a name for myself in the art community, both within Pakistan and internationally.
From an artist’s point of view, this journey has been shaped entirely through my artistic practice. Platforms like No. 35 Gallery in London and exhibitions in Dubai, along with various group shows and exhibitions across Pakistan, have all contributed to my professional recognition. These opportunities have helped my work reach different audiences and have strengthened my identity as a landscape artist.
In this sense, art has been the foundation of my relationships, recognition, and professional growth. It is through art that I have been able to connect with galleries, curators, and fellow artists, and establish myself within the wider art world.
Overall, art is not just something I do—it is the reason I am known as an artist today, and it continues to shape my journey, my opportunities, and my place within the art community.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, I am working on multiple artistic and professional projects simultaneously. I am serving as a Lecturer in Fine Arts at Cadet College, where I continue to engage in teaching and mentoring students in painting and fine arts.
Alongside my teaching responsibilities, I am currently preparing for a workshop in Lahore, which is in its planning and preparation stage. I am also working on my upcoming solo exhibition, for which I have already developed several landscape paintings. At the same time, discussions are in progress with a gallery in Islamabad regarding the exhibition, and I am actively continuing my studio practice to complete the body of work.
Additionally, I am preparing new works with a focused direction in landscape painting, exploring natural light, atmosphere, and composition.
If I am given an opportunity by No. 35 Gallery London, especially in terms of sponsorship and support to develop and present my work there, I would consider it a great honor. I believe it would be a significant milestone in my artistic journey to exhibit my work on such an international platform.
Overall, this phase of my career is a balance between teaching, preparation for exhibitions and workshops, and the continuous development of my personal artistic practice.
What are your future goals as an artist?
My future goals as an artist are both creative and educational in nature. On a personal level, I aim to continue developing my landscape painting practice, exploring new ways of expressing light, atmosphere, and the emotional connection between nature and human experience. I want to further refine my visual language while staying true to my focus on natural beauty and authenticity.
On a professional level, I aim to expand my presence internationally by exhibiting my work in more galleries and art platforms outside Pakistan, while continuing to build strong connections with the global art community. Opportunities like exhibiting with No. 35 Gallery London are part of this vision, and I see them as important steps toward broader artistic recognition.
Alongside my studio practice, I also plan to continue my work as an art educator and organizer. My goal is to conduct more workshops, art competitions, and residencies to promote art awareness and support emerging artists, especially in Pakistan where such opportunities are still developing.
Ultimately, my long-term vision is to contribute meaningfully to both creating art and building a stronger, more aware art culture—locally and internationally.
Where can readers follow your work?
Readers can follow my work through exhibitions, group shows, and gallery collaborations across Pakistan and, occasionally, international platforms. I actively participate in art events and residencies, where my latest works are presented.
In addition to physical exhibitions, I also use social media platforms to share my completed artworks as well as updates from exhibitions where my work is displayed. This allows viewers, collectors, and art enthusiasts to stay connected with my ongoing practice and recent developments.
Through these platforms, audiences can regularly view my new paintings, projects, and artistic activities, and engage with my evolving work in real time.
Overall, my work can be followed both through exhibitions and digital platforms, where I continue to share and document my artistic journey.
