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Personal Story

January 27th, 2014

Growing up learning Urdu, I was intrigued by words that depicted forms. Back then in my younger years, I would read children’s books and see hansi (smile), ghussa (anger) naach (dance), zaeef (old), and other words forming a mental picture. I would see the word “hansi” as a vibrant smile, “ghussa” as an angry word that is barely able to hold back, “naach” as the word itself would frolic in front of my eyes, and “zaeef” as an old and feeble word in need of my help. Later, I would move to America and learn English as a second language. The caveat I found was that it wasn’t Urdu language that formed these pictograms but these images were a product of my own imagination. This idea of learning pictograms would come back one more time when I moved to Damascus in 2002 to study the Arabic language. Thus, it was the beginning of my fascination to make words smile, show anger, dance, and become old to others.

My work constructs new modes of expression based on Arabic writing to first imagine then create a form. I use ink and acrylics on paper or canvas blend in with vibrant nontraditional colors and calligraphy styles.

Canton Museum of Art Exhibition - Faraz Khan

January 27th, 2014

Islamic Calligraphy Artist Faraz Khan Joins Christian, Jewish and Muslim Artists in Sacred Voices Exhibition in Canton, Ohio

Canton, Ohio, December 5th, 2013 – Faraz Khan, a visual artist from Princeton New Jersey, specializing in Islamic art, joins other contemporary artists of faith in the Sacred Voices art exhibition at the Canto3n Museum of Art in Canton, Ohio from December 5th, 2013 to March 2nd, 2014 .

The Scared Voices exhibit features contemporary artwork inspired by Christian, Jewish or Muslim faith. Over thirty artists from across the United States in addition to artists from Australia, Austria, Canada, and the United Kingdom will be exhibiting.

Faraz Khan’s artistic contribution is a three-piece canvas across which the words Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim are rendered in Arabic. The English translation of the words is: In the Name of God, Beneficent, Merciful. The phrase highlights the basic understanding of God as Beneficent and Merciful. Each chapter of the Holy Quran begins with this phrase except one. The verse is repeated 114 times in the Holy Quran to remind the believers that their Lord is Beneficent and Merciful. It should be noted that Arabic is read from right to left, an in Faraz’s artwork, the first word “In the name” spans all three canvases.

bismillah Sacred Voices - Canton“I am honored to be part of an artistic event that brings together talented artists of different faiths from across the world.” The Sacred Voices exhibit features a diverse selection of media — including calligraphy, wood and metal, digital media, watercolor, photography, oil, block prints, plaster, mixed media, mineral pigments and gold, acrylic, gouache and Japanese stone ink, jewelry, ceramics, and video installation. Alongside the art exhibit, the Canton Museum of Art, will feature collaborative events from regional churches, synagogues, musical and choral groups. The opening reception of the exhibit will be on December 5th, 2013, from 6-8pm. For more information on the exhibit, visit the exhibit page at http://www.cantonart.org/sacredvoices. To see Faraz Khan’s other work, visit his website at http://www.farazkhanartstudio.com/.

About Faraz Khan

canton museum logoFaraz Khan is an artist and a teacher at the Arts Council of Princeton. His paintings explore contemporary themes in Islamic art and modern art. His technique embodies a collage of Arabic script and modern ideas, while utilizing ink and acrylics as his medium and vibrant nontraditional colors and calligraphy styles. Faraz has given many presentations on Arabic calligraphy and has displayed his work and taught seminars at New York University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Wesleyan University, Cotsen Children’s Library (Princeton University), Princeton University Art Museum, George Washington University, Fairfield University, and Rutgers University. In a recent art seminar at Princeton University, Faraz advised participants in a collaborative group project: a mural transliterating into Arabic calligraphy more than 200 names of the college’s buildings and famous students. His artwork was covered by the Huffington Post: “Warhol, Pollock … Khan? American Muslims in the Arts”. His work is available online http://www.FarazKhanArtStudio.com and http://faraz-khan.artistwebsites.com and www.Facebook.com/FarazKhanArtStudio

Photo Caption: Islamic Calligraphy piece by Faraz Khan to be featured in Sacred Voices art exhibition in Canton, Ohio.

For more information contact:

Faraz Khan - Email: FarazKhanArt [at] gmail.com

Media Contact:

Reem El Shafaki

DinarStandard

Tel: 732.872.4567

reem.elshafaki@dinarstandard.com

advisory.dinarstandard.com

Faraz Khan, American Muslim Artist on the Huffington Post

September 3rd, 2012

Faraz Khan, American Muslim Artist on the Huffington Post

Faraz Khan artwork covered by the Huffington Post.

The Huffington Post

Warhol, Pollock ... Khan? American Muslims in the Arts
Engy Abdelkadir
September 1, 2012

...
Faraz Khan, 36, is a visual artist from Princeton, New Jersey who creates Islamic art and calligraphy with a contemporary touch combining ink and acrylics.

"My work incorporates Arabic calligraphy with modern colorful themes and explores religious and secular themes," explains Khan.

A native of Pakistan, Khan first discovered his fascination with art during a trip to Syria where he immersed himself in the country's history, culture and language. In 2009, he formally began his professional art career.

"I have always been searching for ways to inspire and be inspired by work of faith. Art enables me to leave behind a trail of my struggle to create something meaningful even after I am gone," says Khan of his chosen career path.

And he has excelled.

Khan recently conducted an art class at Princeton University. It concluded with a collaborative group project: a mural transliterating into Arabic calligraphy more than 200 names of the college's streets, buildings, famous graduates and halls. The mural, which includes the names of Princeton alumnae Woodrow Wilson and John F. Kennedy, now hangs on campus.

Further, a commissioned piece for the Witherspoon Institute incorporated Arabic calligraphy in quoting a verse from the Quran: "There is no compulsion in religion, truth has been made manifest over falsehood."

"The artwork, based on the Quranic verse, employed a unique style of Arabic calligraphy to adorn a book cover and website about Islam and religious freedom sponsored by the Witherspoon Institute," touts Khan. "The book will be published in 15 different world languages to celebrate religious pluralism as defined in Islam."

Khan's art "No Compulsion" was first showcased this past summer at a week-long seminar held at the Princeton Theological Seminary. It was a significant moment for him.

"Through my art, I had the opportunity to highlight for a universal audience that religion should be a positive energy that creates beauty and order, not chaos and coercion," says Khan. "And the verse from the Quran captured that high ideal of religious freedom as guaranteed in the American Constitution."

Princeton Univ. Hanging in there

January 17th, 2012

Princeton Univ. Hanging in there

Over 200 names of streets, buildings, famous graduates, religious life coordinators, and halls were transliterated and written in Arabic in a form of famous Murray-Dodge Hall arch windows. The names of famous Princeton University graduates such as Woodraw Wilson, JFK, Peter Singer, Michael Berry and others adorns this compilation that was put together by ten distinguished students/community members under my care. This artwork will be inaugurated on or about Feb. 3, 2012 and will be hung at Murray-Dodge Hall, Princeton University.

Free Art Class - Princeton University

November 5th, 2011

Free Art Class - Princeton University

Islamic Art Instructions
Instructor: Faraz Khan
Picture: Faraz Khan Bio for Zaytuna College, USA

This Six week class at Murray-Dodge Hall, Princeton University will introduce you to one of Islam’s most beautiful sciences, concluding with a collaborative group project that will be displayed in public at Princeton University.

Aside from teaching a class at Princeton, I am working on PROJECT 99. I am working to produce 99 beautiful names & attributes of God (asma’ul husna) as mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad. It is a conglomerate of 99 canvases painted in different colors combined to read ‘Allah’ in Arabic.

http://faraz-khan.artistwebsites.com

More info about the art class Instructor: www.princeton.edu/muslimlife

EID SALE - up to 20 percent discount

August 28th, 2011

EID SALE - up to 20 percent discount

Salam Alaikum! Peace Be with You,

With the end of Ramadan, month of fasting I have decided to post an Eid Sale on my artwork. You can always use Eid Card option for any of my artwork and send a personal greetings to your friends/family. Please use the following EID SALE Code when you check out: ALTPSM.

LIMITED TIME SALE: online work from 08/28/2011 to 09/28/2011.

Faraz

ICNA ART Faraz Khan - 4 Ways to Become a Better Artist

May 31st, 2011

ICNA ART Faraz Khan - 4 Ways to Become a Better Artist

I gave a talk at ICNA Convention this year. There were many youth and adults aspiring artists to learn more about Islamic art. I loved sharing a few things I have learned with the audience. It was a packed hall, around 200 budding artists and they were all listening. Many invited me to teach a class at their community (really cool folks at the convention).

1. Learn your pen (brush).
2. Practice, and practice some more

3. Learn and study master artists within your field of art
4. But BE UNIQUE... create your own STYLE...

Best,
Faraz Khan

Twenty Percent Discount on my artwork

May 31st, 2011

Twenty Percent Discount on my artwork

Just made a deal with my art company... 20% discount on my online work from 05/31/2011 to 07/01/2011. When you are ready to check out, use Discount Code: ALTPSM

Best,

Faraz Khan

Zaytuna College Fundraiser, New Brunswick, NJ

May 18th, 2011

Zaytuna College Fundraiser, New Brunswick, NJ

Imam Zaid Shakir and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf are coming to New Brunswick, NJ for Zaytuna College fundraiser on May 21, 2011.

I have this Zaytuna College inspired Artwork of bismillah (In the name of God) written in a pen form writing the first verse of the Qur'an revealed to Prophet Muhammad on 24x36 frame. Since this piece is for Zaytuna College fundraiser auction, I decided to include leaves of olives (Arabic Zaytuna!). The green leaves signify growth, maturity, life, and vigor. The leaves in gold and silver colors represent people based on the hadith of the Prophet "People are like minerals... gold and silver" a reflection of their inner dimension. I pray that Zaytuna College becomes a beacon of knowledge in the West.

Rumi Art Presented at Princeton University

April 23rd, 2011

Rumi Art Presented at Princeton University

On Wednesday, April 23, 2011 Princeton University hosted Tariq Ramadan and Eric Gregory two scholars of religion and modern ethics. The topic of the discussion was "Religion and the Problem of Oppression". The conversation was attended by around six hundred people in McCosh Hall. I did three similar art pieces depicting a figure with verses from Shams-eTabriz of the famous poet Rumi. Translation below:

For Dr. Gregory:
If it is a sign that you seek in this path, my dear friend
Yourself you must transcend and signs to you shall speak.

Rumi Shams-e-Tabriz 177

For Paul R.
I asked Thee to be my friend, And change this dividing trend
He replied that "I transcend, All divisions in me shall end."

Rumi Shams-e-Tabriz 160


For Dr. Ramadan
Settle for God’s never ending grace
Grace of all others try to evade.

Rumi Shams-e-Tabriz 24


 

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