Early Life and Education
Ismail Gulgee was a famous artist from Pakistan, born on October 25, 1926, in Peshawar. He became well-known for his unique style, but he didn’t have formal training in art. He taught himself to paint while studying hydraulics in the United States. His first exhibition was in Stockholm in 1950, where he worked briefly as a design engineer. After finishing his studies, Ismail Gulgee returned to Pakistan and held another solo exhibition in Warsak, near Peshawar, while working on a dam project on the Kabul River.
Career Breakthrough and Portrait Commissions
Gulgee’s talent as a portrait artist quickly attracted attention, leading to commissions from high-profile clients and government support. In 1957, Afghanistan’s King Zahir Shah asked him to paint his portrait, which led to an invitation to Kabul to create 151 portraits of the Afghan royal family. Gulgee became known as “the court painter of Pakistan” and painted many dignitaries, including U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, King Hussein of Jordan, and Farah Pahlavi, Empress of Iran.
The Journey Toward Artistic Fame
At first, many people didn’t take Gulgee’s art seriously. During a meeting with Aga Khan in the 1950s, the leader suggested he focus on engineering, saying the country needed engineers more than artists. Undeterred, Gulgee held his first exhibition in Stockholm and continued his artistic journey. His big break came when King Zahir Shah liked one of his portraits and invited him to Kabul, where Gulgee created many portraits and sketches, earning recognition as one of Pakistan’s top young artists.
Mastery of Lapis Lazuli Portraits
Gulgee became famous for creating lifelike portraits using lapis lazuli, a semi-precious blue stone. From a distance, his portraits looked like photographs, but up close, you could see they were made from thousands of tiny pieces of lapis lazuli, carefully arranged to form detailed images. This technique helped him gain fame as a master portrait artist.
Evolution of Artistic Style
Introduction to Abstract Expressionism
In 1960, Gulgee discovered abstract expressionism at an exhibition by American painter Elaine Hamilton in Karachi. He adapted this style to create large, flowing calligraphic abstractions that reflected the spiritual dance of Sufi dervishes, capturing the rhythm and spirituality of Islamic culture.
Experimentation with Sculpture and Calligraphic Abstractions
In the late 1960s, Gulgee began exploring sculpture using bronze to create large pieces featuring Quranic verses and Islamic symbols. One of his notable sculptures, made in 1986, is located at the Shah Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. He also started adding gold and silver leaf, mirrors, and vibrant dots to his paintings, enhancing their richness and depth.
Limited Exhibitions in Pakistan
Despite his international success, Gulgee showed his work less frequently in Pakistan because there weren’t many suitable places for his large pieces. A rare solo exhibition took place at Karachi’s Indus Gallery in 1988, followed by a major retrospective at the National Assembly in Islamabad in 1994.
Legacy and Tragic End
In 2000, Gulgee opened the Gulgee Museum near his home in Karachi to preserve his artistic legacy. His artwork was known for its bright colors, bold brushwork, and deep emotional impact. Sadly, on December 19, 2007, Ismail Gulgee, his wife Zarin, and their maid were found murdered in their home. He was buried in Karachi on December 20, 2007.
Awards and Honors
- President’s Medal for Pride of Performance, Government of Pakistan, 1970
- Sitara-e-Imtiaz, 1982
- Quaid-e-Azam Award, 1988
- Hilal-e-Imtiaz, 1995
Notable Articles on Ismail Gulgee
- Ismail Gulgee: The Gestural Interpreter of Islamic Calligraphy
- Ismail Gulgee
- Ismail Gulgee: A Pride for the Nation?
- Faces of Pakistan: Ismail Gulgee
- Ismail Gulgee: A Towering Artist from the Subcontinent
- Ismail Gulgee: An Insight into the Life of Pakistan’s Great Painter (Parts 1 & 2)
- Gulgee Painting Auction Sets Record at Bonham’s
- Bonhams: Art on the Rise
Books on Ismail Gulgee
- Gulgee
- Ismail Gulgee
- Pakistani Painters