He is an aspiring artist of diversified skills and an inspiring icon in the visual arts arena who has played a highly significant role in the promotion of art and art education in the country for over five decades. A fellow of National College of Arts Lahore (NCA) his works adorn prestigious public and private collections around the world. For his dedication to art he has been awarded Pakistan's esteemed civilian awards Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) 2012, Tamgha-e Husn-e Karkardagi (Pride of Performance) 1994.
Saeed Akhtar's life and works from 1960's to the present day can be explored in a recent exhibition titled "Saeed Akhtar: Recent works". His lifelong meritorious contributions, sheer hard work, dedication and perseverance in drawing, painting and sculpture have inspired generations of Pakistani artists.
Accompanied by a book launch entitled "Saeed Akhtar: Sketchbook" a revised second edition of the monograph "Saeed Akhtar" with text written by Dr Khalid Mahmud the occasion at Saeed Akhtar Studio Gallery, Lahore became more interesting for art enthusiasts. Two comprehensive monographs have also been published in 2009 and 2011 to the delight of art lovers.
The complex human emotions are communicated effectively through black and white drawings by Saeed Akhtar. The alluring and flowing recent drawings in charcoal on paper are the result of his love for nature, he has an eye for beauty.
The simple grey, black colour of charcoal is enough for Saeed Akhtar to convey his message to the colourful world. The issues of self and society both are raised in his works, sharing the beauty with the world in its pure natural way.
Devoid of colours yet very impressive and attractive, he reduces forms to their utmost simplicity and then embellishes them with vibrant charcoal strokes and energises them further with implied textures enjoying their subtle nuances.
He is an aspiring artist of diversified skills. In my opinion the body language and facial expressions are the basic life of his works; he is a keen observer, who transforms the real images in his own way rendering them in a new manner in a specific style that is from real to surreal.
The subjects of his artworks are engaging. The firmly embedded visions in his mind take shape on paper. The energy with which his hand flows can be felt easily by viewing his works.
He loves to exaggerate the contours of the body and facial expression of his subject and embellish them with more interesting details.
The ordinary faces of men and women are full of expressions. Smiling, alluring paintings and drawings of young women with high-bridged noses, big bright eyes and heavy ornaments reveal a new world of beauty but mostly in deep thought, making it a serious affair. Among the artworks one sees some turban wearing men with the stories of life on their faces.
Other than human figures he has also explored Nature and his love for horses can be seen in his colourful paintings and action packed drawings of horses. He even brought out the emotions of an animal in his artworks, which is amazing. Horse is a beautiful and powerful animal with a sense of faithfulness. That's why by painting horses an artist experience the beauty, power and faith.
But in Saeed Akhtar's artworks there is a special horse called "Buraq", a celestial figure for him to hold the transient moment. It is man's quest for the Divine amidst sheer mortality.
Saeed Akhtar's sensibilities of form, texture and colour define his oeuvre lending any medium that he uses, a pulsating emotive quality. His most memorable works include: In 1999 working on the largest Painting of the Quaid -e- Azam and his companions ( 10 x 30 feet Oil on Canvas), in 1998 designed relief of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for One Rupee Coin issued on 14th August, in 1998-1999 Designed all Postage Stamps of Pioneer of Freedom series including twenty seven stamps issued on 14th August for the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Pakistan Resolution, in 1992 Portrait of Jahangir Kh an and Imran Khan Sculpture busts for the Olympic Museum, Lahore and "Wrestler" relief for the Olympic Museum, Lahore, in 1989 A Calligraphic Painting for the Pakistan Union Post Office, Bern (Switzerland), in 1989 painted portraits of Allama Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Moulvi Abdul Haq of Bengal for the Lahore Museum, 1988 Painted the largest portrait of the Quaid-e-Azam, for the Republic Day Parade, Rawalpindi, In 1980 mural titled 'The History of the P.A.F', In 1979 relief portrait of the Quaid-e-Azam for the Centenary Medal for the Armed Forces of Pakistan commissioned by the Secretary General of the Army Staff. Portraits of the Chief of the Army and Air Staff, Chairmen of the Joint Army Staff, Commandents of the Staff College, Quetta, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Mangla and Risalpur, In 1967-92 portraits of the Quaid-e-Azam for Major Officer Messes of the Pakistan Army, Air Force, Navy, Presidency, Prime Minister House, National Assembly, State Bank Building, Provincial Assemblies of Balochistan and Punjab, Cabinet Room, Karachi Portraits of eminent personalities of Indo-Pakistan for the Prime Minister Secretariats and State Guest House, Rawalpindi, In 1975 Portraits of the Head of States, Islamic Summit Conference, Lahore, In 1970 Portrait of Sir Adamjee, Adamjee House, Karachi, In 1969 Portraits of Shaheeds for the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, In 1967 Designed the New Emblem of the West Pakistan High Court, Lahore.
Many of his paintings are in public collection in Museums like Lahore Museum, Library of Congress, Washington, Abby and Grey Foundation, USA, State University, New York, Armed Forces Museum, Rawalpindi, Smithsonian Institute, Washington University DC, USA, Punjab Arts Council, Lahore, National Art Galleries, Islamabad, State Bank Building, Islamabad, Governor's House, Karachi and Lahore, and his artworks are in collections of numerous corporations, individuals, inside the country and abroad.
Other than national awards he is a recipient of many awards and prizes including 1998 First Prize at the National Exhibition of Calligraphy at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, Islamabad, 1997 Fellow of the National College of Arts, 1994 The President's Award for Pride of Performance, Presidency, Islamabad, 1987 Chughtai Award, First Biennial Exhibition, Lahore, 1984 First Prize, National Exhibition of Paintings, Lahore, 1984 Senior Group First Prize for Tarbela in Painting, Pakistan Cultural Association.
Going through his career one see a deep love for the country and he did what he could with the help of his Art to serve the country. He has many students who want to follow in his foot steps and art lovers who admire him a lot.
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