Zarina Hashmi Biography

Zarina Hashmi, also known as Zarina, was an Indian-American artist and printmaker based in New York. She was born on July 16, 1937, and passed away on April 25, 2020. Zarina’s artistic creations included drawings, lithographs, and sculptures.

She was known for her affiliation with the Minimalist art movement, where she used abstract and geometric shapes to evoke a sense of spirituality in those who experienced her work.

Zarina Hashmi Early Life

Zarina Rashid, born in Aligarh, British India, on July 16, 1937, was the daughter of Sheikh Abdur Rashid, a professor at Aligarh Muslim University, and Fahmida Begum, a homemaker. In 1958, she earned a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in mathematics from Aligarh Muslim University.

Afterward, she honed her skills in printmaking through studies in Thailand, Paris at the Atelier 17 under Stanley William Hayter, and alongside Japanese printmaker Tshi Yoshida. Zarina resided and worked in New York City.

During the 1980s, Zarina was actively involved in the New York Feminist Art Institute board and conducted papermaking seminars at the Women’s Centre for Learning. She also played a role in the “Third World Women” issue of the feminist art periodical Heresies while serving on its editorial board.

Tragically, on April 25, 2020, Zarina passed away in London due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

In honor of her 86th birthday on July 16, 2023, Google featured a Doodle inspired by Zarina’s artistic contributions.

Zarina Hashmi Career

Zarina’s art was shaped by her identity as an Indian Muslim woman and her extensive travels. She found inspiration in Islamic religious decorations, especially the precise patterns found in Islamic buildings. Initially, her early works were likened to minimalist art, similar to Sol LeWitt, due to their simple and abstract geometric designs.

In her artwork, Zarina explored the idea of home as an abstract concept that goes beyond physical places. Her symbols often conveyed themes of movement, diaspora, and exile. For example, her woodblock print titled “Paper Like Skin” features a thin black line running diagonally from the lower right to the upper left on a white background. This line resembles a map, suggesting a boundary between two places or perhaps an unfinished journey.

Zarina Hashmi Awards and Scholarships

• 2007: Residency, University of Richmond, Virginia
• Residence at the Montalvo Arts Centre in Saratoga, California in 2006.
• Residence in 2002 at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts
• 1994: New York Residency, Art-Omi, Omi
• Residency, Women’s Studio Workshop, Rosendale, New York, 1991
• 1990: Grant from the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation and Fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts
• Grand Prize, International Print Biennial, Bhopal, India, 1989
• New York, 1985: New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship
• New York Printmaking Workshop Fellowship, 1984
• 1974: Fellowship from the Japan Foundation in Tokyo;
• 1969: President’s Award for Printmaking in India

Zarina Hashmi Facts

1. Birth and Name: Zarina Hashmi was born on July 16, 1937, in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. She’s often simply known as Zarina.
2. Artistic Inspirations: Zarina’s art was profoundly influenced by Islamic calligraphy, miniature painting, and the architectural heritage of India.
3. Themes in Her Work: In her art, Zarina often explored themes like home, displacement, memory, and identity. She used floor plans, maps, and architectural elements to symbolize personal and collective histories.
4. Educational Background: She studied mathematics at Aligarh Muslim University and pursued art at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, specializing in printmaking.
5. Minimalist Style: Zarina’s artwork is characterized by its minimalist aesthetics, featuring clean lines, geometric shapes, and a limited color palette.
6. Traditional Techniques: She incorporated traditional craftsmanship methods, such as woodblock printing, embossing, and papermaking, to create tactile and visually captivating pieces.
7. Awards and Recognitions: Zarina received the Padma Shri from the Indian government in 2011 and the United States Artists Fellowship in 2008 for her artistic contributions.
8. International Exhibitions: Her artworks have been displayed in prestigious institutions like the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Guggenheim Museum, the Tate Modern in London, and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.

Zarina Hashmi Family

Family has always been a significant source of inspiration for Zarina. One of her most cherished pieces of artwork, known as “Letters from Home,” is a collection of six heartfelt letters written by her sister, Rani, to Zarina.

Rani shared these letters with Zarina during one of their visits, and they hold deep emotional significance. In these letters, Rani shared her feelings about the loss of their parents, the sale of her own home, the loneliness she experienced when her children moved away, and her longing for Zarina’s presence during these challenging times.

Nowadays, due to Zarina’s declining health, she spends most of her time in London with her niece, Saima, and nephew, Imran. Being surrounded by family, especially her great-grandniece, Shanaya, brings her immense joy and comfort.

Zarina Hashmi Articles

• The artist of ideas: 81 year-old Zarina Hashmi’s new show revisits the themes of her life and work
• A Somber Commemoration of the Partition of India, 70 years later
• Zarina Hashmi: weaving an eloquent silence
• Zarina: A home is where you make it
• Home and belonging are the themes of this Mumbai exhibition
• Dividing Lines and the Art of Exile
• A Border Runs Through It
• Radiant transits of Zarina Hashmi
• The unsettled artist
• Zarina Hashmi / Guggenheim Museum
• Zarina Hashmi / Gallery Espace
• Zarina Hashmi: Dark Roads / Art Asia Pacific
• Seven Questions for Zarina Hashmi / The Met Museum
• Feminism for Me Was About Equal Pay for Equal Work—Not About Burning Bras: Interview with Zarina
• Zarina’s ‘Dark Roads’: Exile, Statelessness and the Tenacity of Nostalgia
• Weaving Darkness and Silence: Zarina Hashmi
• Review: Zarina Hashmi’s Weaving Darkness and Silence at Gallery Espace

Zarina Hashmi Books

• Zarina: Paper Houses (2007)
• Zarina Hashmi: Recent Works (2011)
• Zarina Hashmi: Noor (2011)
• Lines of Inquiry: Partition, Historiography and the Art of Zarina Hashmi (2012)
• Zarina: Paper Like Skin (2012)
• Zarina: Weaving Darkness and Silence (2017)
• Zarina: Directions to my House (2018)

Zarina Hashmi Top 10 Auction Records

Here is the top 10 auction records of Zarina Hasmi given in the table below:

Frequently Asked Questions on Zarina Hashmi

Who is Zarina Hashmi?

Zarina Hashmi, also known as Zarina, was an Indian-American artist and printmaker renowned for her minimalist art. She was born on July 16, 1937, and passed away on April 25, 2020.

What types of art did Zarina create?

Zarina's artistic creations included drawings, lithographs, and sculptures, often characterized by minimalist aesthetics and abstract geometric designs.

What influenced Zarina's artwork?

Zarina's art was influenced by Islamic calligraphy, miniature painting, and the architectural heritage of India. She used symbols like floor plans and maps to explore themes of home, displacement, memory, and identity.

Where did Zarina study and work?

She studied mathematics at Aligarh Muslim University and pursued art at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. She honed her printmaking skills in various places, including Paris, Thailand, and New York.

What awards and honors did Zarina receive?

Zarina received several awards and fellowships during her career, including the Padma Shri from the Indian government in 2011 and the United States Artists Fellowship in 2008.