Ibrahim Gailani is a self-taught contemporary artist of Pakistani descent who moved to Dubai, U.A.E in 1979 at the age of 5 years. “There is art everywhere, only if we pause to look,” says Ibrahim.
He did his primary & secondary education in UAE AND has been living in Gulf countries most of his life, from U.A.E to Kuwait, and for 12 years in Muscat, Oman. Gailani started his professional carrier in 2010 with the “Gailani Art Studio” participating in Art Exhibitions and founding the “Gailani Art Retreat”.
A creative getaway of self-expression using painting and music. The retreat engaged more than 900 participants in over 60 art retreats since its inception. Gailani’s paintings are exhibited in the Middle East, Europe & North America. His recent work is known for its pop-art-inspired portraits with street graffiti lettering. “Our stories are on our face if only people paused to look and read,” says Ibrahim.
He has had over 21 International Art Exhibitions in the past 11 years, winning 2 International Art Awards – 2 in New York, U.S.A, and 2 in Vancouver, Canada in September 2016 his work exhibited in New York Coffee Art Festival won the Visitor Choice Award. The same month he published his book “Gailani – An Artistic Journey” – A memoir of his life story told through paintings. In December 2017 his painting “The Refugee” won the Jury word for the 3rd Annual “Show Your World Art Competition” showcased at Gallery MC, New York City. He was also awarded Best International Artist at Art Vancouver in 2018.
In December 2018 he debuted his artwork at Red Dot Miami during the Art Basel Week., and then at Art Wynwood in February 2019. He also won Best International “Artist of Honor” at Campbell River Winter Art Festival, British Columbia, Canada in November 2018. Gulf News of Dubai did a special feature on Gailani with the title “Artist Puts Oman on the Global Stage”
In June 2020 his work was published in the “Art of Sherlock Holmes” – Global Edition 2 becoming one of 13 international artists featuring there. During the pandemic lockdowns, Ibrahim Gailani launched a video Web-Series “Art-Beats” that interviewed artists and showcased art activities to motivate them.