Posthumous Exhibition Honouring a Pioneer of Fine Arts Education in Pakistan
Islamabad — 31st March, 2026
Quiet Landscapes, Enduring Legacy, a landmark posthumous exhibition of paintings by the late Professor Abida Ehsan, opened to a distinguished and wide-ranging audience at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts on March 29, 2026. Curated by Sarah Rajper, the exhibition brought together family members, eminent artists, former students, and members of the public in a powerful celebration of the life, work, and far-reaching legacy of one of Pakistan’s influential artist-educators.
In a moment both poignant and profound, the exhibition was inaugurated by her one-and-a-half-year-old great-granddaughter, Rimelle Hasan Yayla, an act that beautifully symbolised the continuity of generations and the enduring transmission of artistic and intellectual heritage. The opening evening unfolded with a rare sense of authenticity and vitality, drawing a diverse gathering of guests from across professional and cultural spheres, reflecting the remarkable breadth of Professor Ehsan’s influence.
The exhibition presents a thoughtfully curated body of work spanning multiple phases of her artistic life. Long held in private family collections, these paintings, ranging from luminous landscapes to intimate portraits and contemplative still lifes, reveal a practice imbued with quiet lyricism, emotional depth, and a refined sensitivity to memory and place. Together, they offer an intimate window into an inner world shaped by decades of observation, reflection, and artistic discipline.
A visionary and trailblazer in the field of art education, Professor Abida Ehsan established the first Fine Arts Department in Rawalpindi in 1964, an unprecedented initiative that laid the foundation for formal arts education in the region. Over the course of more than three decades, she dedicated herself to teaching, mentoring, and institution-building, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape generations of artists and independent thinkers.
This exhibition, organized by her family, marks the first major public presentation of her work. Reflecting on this deeply personal undertaking, her daughters, Ms. Samar Ihsan, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan, and Ms. Tehreem Bilal, Deputy Head of Institution/Dean of Academics, ROOTS IVY Network, shared:
“Holding this exhibition is like finally hitting ‘play’ on a beautiful song our beloved mother composed in private because she had been so engrossed in teaching Fine Arts that she hardly got the time to exhibit her own work. After her death in 2023, we finally decided to exhibit her work. It is indeed a labour of love and gratitude. It allows her observations, her techniques, and her soul to finally “talk” to the community she helped build.”
They also expressed their appreciation to those whose support made the exhibition possible:
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Asad Rehman Gilani, Secretary, National Heritage and Culture Division, Mr. Muhammad Ayoub Jamali, Director-General of PNCA, Ms. Mariam Ahmed, Director, Visual Arts Division, Ms. Sarah Rajper, curator, Ms. Saba Zia, Designer, and the entire team at PNCA for their invaluable support and assistance in bringing this exhibition to fruition.”
“We are especially grateful to our daughter/niece, Ms. Mashal Hasan Yayla, for producing a beautiful and deeply moving video on Mrs. Ehsan’s life and work, featuring tributes by Professor Salima Hashmi, Senior Advocate Mr. Sibtain Fazli, Professor Kauser Jahan, Professor Dr. Maimona Khan, and Ms. Faiza Shah. My sister Tehreem Bilal and I are profoundly thankful to all of them for taking the time to honour our beloved mother.” — Ms. Samar Ihsan
Serving as both a tribute and a rediscovery, Quiet Landscapes, Enduring Legacy brings into the public realm a body of work shaped by a lifetime of quiet dedication to art, education, and intellectual inquiry. It stands as a testament to Professor Abida Ehsan’s enduring contribution to Pakistan’s cultural and academic landscape.
The exhibition will remain on view at PNCA, Islamabad, until April 5, 2026, with daily visiting hours from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (except Sat)
