Murtaza Alawi paints the quiet truths of the human soul—faces that whisper untold stories through light, shadow, and emotion.
Murtaza Alawi is an Afghan visual artist and contemporary painter whose work centers on the human figure, emotional expression, and the complexities of identity. His paintings explore personal experiences, social realities, and the psychological dimensions that exist beyond spoken language.
Influenced by portraiture and figurative art, Alawi blends observation, imagination, and emotional interpretation to create works that move between recognizable reality and expressive abstraction. His artistic practice reflects a deep interest in the tension between what is seen and what is felt.
Alawi has earned recognition in multiple art competitions, including First Place in Inspire Pakistan (in collaboration with UNHCR), Third Place in the Al-Nasr Painting Competition in Quetta, and First Place in the Figurative Category among young painters in Kabul.
Beyond his studio practice, he is actively engaged in art education. He has taught painting at Yagana Private School, Salam Private School, and Parniyan Gallery, and has worked as an art instructor for women and girls from disadvantaged backgrounds at the Fanavaran-e Mihan Dostan Institute.
Alawi is also the Founder of En’ekas Gallery, an independent initiative dedicated to supporting artists, promoting visual art, and creating opportunities for cultural and artistic exchange.
For me, painting is more than the creation of an image—it is a language through which emotions, human experiences, and hidden realities can be expressed.
The human figure and portrait are central to my practice. I am drawn to the emotional stories that exist behind a face, a gesture, or a fragmented form. Through color, gesture, texture, and expressive mark-making, I aim to create a dialogue between what is visible and what is felt.
My creative process is shaped by observation, personal experience, imagination, and emotional response. I am particularly interested in the tension between reality and inner perception. Rather than simply reproducing what I see, I transform it through a personal and expressive visual language.
My work is influenced by Neo-Expressionism and contemporary figurative painting, with an emphasis on emotional intensity, strong forms, and the psychological dimension of the human experience.
Art education is also an important part of my identity. I believe access to art should not be limited by social or economic circumstances. Teaching young people—especially women and girls from disadvantaged backgrounds—is a meaningful part of my artistic and social commitment.
Through my work and through En’ekas Gallery, I aim to create a space where art becomes a form of reflection, communication, empowerment, and connection.
Teaching painting and developing students’ artistic skills.
Supporting the artistic growth of young talents.
Teaching painting and participating in visual arts programs.
Fanavaran-e Mihan Dostan Institute Providing art education to disadvantaged women and girls, focusing on creative development and access to artistic opportunities.
Founder and organizer of an independent artistic initiative supporting artists, promoting visual art, and creating opportunities for cultural and artistic exchange.
Awarded first place in the Inspire Pakistan art competition, organized in collaboration with UNHCR.
Third-place recognition in the Al-Nasr Painting Competition in Balochistan.
First-place award in the Figurative category among young painters in Kabul.
Faiz Mohammad Katib School High School Graduate (Grade 12)
En’ekas Gallery — Pakistan Founder / Artistic Director
