Salima Hashmi

Salima Hashmi (born December 14, 1942, in New Delhi) is a renowned Pakistani artist, educator, writer, and human rights activist. The daughter of celebrated poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and British-born journalist Alys Faiz, she migrated to Lahore with her family in 1947. Hashmi studied at the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore, the Bath Academy of Art in England, and earned a master’s degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. She taught at NCA for over 30 years, serving as its principal, and later became the founding dean of the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts & Design at Beaconhouse National University. Her art often addresses themes of gender, identity, and political resistance. A founding member of the Women’s Action Forum, she has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights and peace in South Asia. Hashmi received Pakistan’s Pride of Performance award in 1999. She continues to mentor emerging artists and curate exhibitions that spotlight contemporary South Asian art.