R.M. Naeem

R.M. Naeem (b.1968, Mirpurkhas, Pakistan) is a prominent contemporary artist, educator, and curator based in Lahore. He graduated with distinction in Fine Arts from the National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, in 1993, and has been serving as a faculty member there since 1994. In recognition of his contributions to the arts, he was awarded the President’s Pride of Performance in 2023, the National Award of Excellence in 2003, and the Provincial Best Painter Award in 1991 and 1992.

Over the past three decades, Naeem has held more than 20 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous prestigious group shows and biennales around the world, including in Bangladesh, Iran, South Korea, France, China, India, the UAE, and the United States. His work has been widely exhibited in art fairs such as the India Art Fair, Asia Now Paris, and the Affordable Art Fairs in Singapore and Melbourne.

Beyond his practice, Naeem is deeply invested in nurturing emerging talent. In 2008, he founded Studio RM, an independent studio and international artist residency program in Lahore, which has hosted local and international artists. In 2023, he launched an artist retreat initiative to honor senior artists and promote creative exchange.

Naeem has participated in 17 international art residencies and conducted art workshops both in Pakistan and abroad. In 2015, he represented Pakistan in a cultural exchange organized by the Chinese Embassy, promoting Pakistani art across six Chinese cities. He also represented Pakistan at the United Nations in New York during the “New Pathways” exhibition.

His work is included in various private and institutional collections and has been featured in numerous art publications. R.M. Naeem continues to live, work, and mentor in Lahore, Pakistan.