She has 1m followers and a celebrity fan base that includes Pharrell and Sam Smith. Dentist-turned-digital artist and bonafide Instagram sensation Sara Shakeel is Guest Artist at The Other Art Fair London at the Truman Brewery.
Pakistani-raised, London-based artist Sara will exhibit her original artworks, alongside a brand-new immersive, hand-made installation, for the first time at the fair’s Frieze week London edition.
“I paint with crystals.”
Sara Shakeel will be creating a series of limited-edition prints, hand-embellished with beautiful Swarovski crystals and a series of stunning, affordable posters. The proceeds from the posters will be donated to Alkhidmat Pakistan, a non-profit and independent organization, fully dedicated to humanitarian service currently providing urgent, life saving humanitarian assistance to all communities in South Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh. At the Fair, visitors can meet Sara herself, and explore her artworks on display in a stunning and sparkling space adorned with a captivating and spooky crystal spiderweb installation, just in time for Halloween.
From Dentist to Artist
Sara began her art career by chance. After parting ways with her pursuit of dentistry, Sara sought purpose and meaning via art, which she advocates to this day healed her in more ways than one. Having commenced her creative journey in digital arts she would quickly put together on her phone, Sara instantly knew that her life as a formal practicing artist was imminent. When posting her first piece on Instagram, she received twenty-three likes and already felt honored and accepted that her work was being seen and enjoyed by others. And so began her online community of Sara Shakeel followers and advocates.
“I do it out of love, and it all comes from a very genuine place. That’s why I came up with the quote “ each picture heals a part of me and I hope it heals a part of you too.”
Despite the stigma around art as a career in Pakistan, Shakeel continued making sparkling and joyful works including a series of body-positive images of stretchmarks adorned with crystals. Her works began going viral on the regular, and celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Miley Cyrus, and Ashley Graham, as well as big brands such as Reebok took note. Amongst her current fans and followers are giants in music, art and fashion including Pharrell, Takashi Murakami, Sam Smith, Huda Kattan, and Chance the Rapper – who invited her to collaborate on the cover art for his debut album ‘The Big Day’.
“I want to continue growing. I mean, there was a time where I didn’t even know how to use Photoshop, but I learned. Now I’m making installations with real crystals. The process of evolution is and should be endless.”
As a very spiritual person, Sara found her calling as an artist. Her genuine love of creating and the skills she has taught herself, such as how to use Photoshop, were paying off in the happiness she was bringing to others as her images received greater recognition. Very quickly, her creative practice became a viable career, and she has since worked with brands including Huda Beauty, La Mer, Evian, Lancome, Mercedes Benz, Amazon, Jimmy Choo, Coach and Browns Fashion to name a few. Her work has also been featured in Vogue, The Financial Times, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, Hypebeast, Grazia and more. She also received the Now Gallery Young Artist Commission in 2019, presenting an incredible bejeweled dinner table installation entitled “The Great Supper”.
“I get inspiration from almost everywhere. And I think this is what makes an artist: you look around and you get inspired. For me, every image has a meaning that affected me on a personal level too. That’s why I really make sure that my whole Instagram feed is not just about promotions, it is something I really feel. It’s my way of communicating.”
Sara believes in the power of crystals as objects of light and beauty, and at the core of all her pieces is a message of healing, empowerment, and joy. The Other Art Fair’s London October edition marks her first ever commercial exhibition, and the entirely unique opportunity to see her works in person, meet the artist herself, and become fully immersed in her magical and glittering world of wonder.
The Other Art Fair London – 13-16 October 2023. For more information and to book tickets visit www.theotherartfair.com
