Founded in 1999, the gallery is committed to the discovery, support, development and promotion of Pakistani art and artists. Situated in Karachi, the commercial and industrial capital of the country, Canvas Gallery strives to provide a platform for contemporary art and artists from Pakistan. In its attempt to move beyond the mere act of selling or showcasing art, the gallery concentrates on bringi
ng artists from across the nation together, in exhibitions carefully curated to cultivate their potential. In this course, Canvas Gallery displays works of cutting edge nature and experimental quality - including contemporary miniature painting, installation, sculpture and new-media art. Internationally recognised, Canvas Gallery has curated as well as collaborated in exhibitions in the USA, UK, Middle East and the Far East. With regular fortnightly programming, Canvas is a stimulating and unique visual arts venue with an ever-evolving array of approximately 1,000 original works by more than 100 established and emerging Pakistani artists. For discerning collectors as well as first-time buyers, a visit to Canvas is a worthwhile experience. The gallery offers services that range from general advice to searches for particular pieces - to consultations for individuals, businesses or corporations wishing to begin or enhance their collections. Sameera Raja is the Founder / Curator of Canvas Gallery, Karachi. Having originally obtained her degree in architecture from the National College of Arts in Lahore, Ms Raja, after working in this field, broadened her interests to the world of visual arts. The idea of Canvas Gallery emerged from Ms Raja’s astute observation that there were few opportunities for exhibiting cutting-edge, contemporary art which, at the turn of the last century, Pakistan was direly in need of . In over twenty years since Canvas Gallery opened its doors to the public, Sameera Raja changed the course of Pakistani art and its relationship to the international art world through focus on modern miniature, new media and contemporary works, by creating exposure and awareness of emerging talent. Canvas Gallery is now considered the leading private art gallery of the country. The Canvas Residency Programmes were an initiative launched for exploration of art in public spaces, to provide artists with unique opportunities to collaborate with local communities and create work outside their regular frame of reference/studio spaces. The Residency Programmes are held in collaboration with key corporate partners locally. Ms Raja also regularly collaborates with a number of galleries around the world to exhibit in art fairs, biennales and other ventures, in addition to holding solo exhibitions of prominent Pakistani artists as well as emerging artists. Ms Raja’s contributions to the Pakistani art scene have been numerous. She was formerly the Chairperson of the Executive Committee and a Member of the Board of Governors of the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVSAA) as well as holding a previous position as the Art Chair for the 1st ADA (Architecture, Design, Art) Awards. She is on the Advisory Panel for IPAF (International Public Art Festival), is the Jury Chair of the I Am Karachi (IAK) Awards and a Jury Member of the Toyota Motors Dream Car Competition. In addition, she delivers talks, participates in cultural events and promotes contemporary Pakistani art at various forums and platforms, art fairs and institutes within the country as well as internationally and is an established leading authority within her field.
