Born: 20 December 1942, India
Died: NA
Country most active: Pakistan
Also known as: سلیمہ ہاشمی
Pakistani artist, academic and activist Salima Hashmi is the daughter of poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and poet, journalist and peace and human rights activist Alys Faiz. Born in New Delhi in 1942, she and her family migrated to Lahore during the partition of India in 1947. During her childhood, her father was imprisoned for his communist views, and later went into self-exile due to government harrassment under the administration of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.
After studying design at National College of Arts in Lahore, Hashmi moved to England in the early 1960s, completing her diploma in art education at Bath Academy of Art in 1965. Later, she earned a Master’s in the topic from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1990. She rose to become and internationally prominent artist, curator and contemporary art historian. She returned to her alma mater, teaching at the National College of Arts for 31 years and leading the school for four years. She also served as dean of the School of Visual Arts & Design at the Beaconhouse National University Lahore. She co-founded Rohtas 2 Gallery in Lahore to promote the work of young artists.
As an activist, Hashmi has been outspoken about condemning the Pakistani and Indian nuclear programs. She is a member of Amnesty International and Pakistan Peace Initiative to India, as well as vice-chairperson (Punjab) Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Her books include Unveiling the Visible: Lives and Deeds of Women Artists of Pakistan and Memory, Metaphor, Mutations: Contemporary Art of India and Pakistan.
In 1999, Hashmi received the Pride of Performance Award for her services to Pakistan.