KarachiSchool of Art was founded back in 1964 by Rabia Zuberi, thus making it the first private academic center of art in the country and first center of art education of any kind in the city of Karachi. At the time when the concept of KSA was conceived, there was little know-how regarding art, creativity and innovation in the region. There was lack of awareness among the people about the various opportunities that the creative industry has to offer. Thus KSA is rendered as the pioneer at promoting art education and today takes pride in producing many eminent artists during its history.
Department of Fine Art Offers four years diploma in Fine Arts with the major and minor subjects of painting, sculpture, and printmaking. By third year students get well acquainted with the media of Painting, Sculpture and Printmaking, so in the second term of third year one subject out of these is selected as the major area of specialization with one minor. At the end of the fourth-year, students are required to submit a Final Project called thesis, which is taken as the apex of the studies. A panel of jurors evaluates the thesis project that leads to the completion of studies. Huge painting and drawing studios; PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP with two new etching presses, SCULPTURE studio and fully equipped workshop with gas and electric welding plants, fiberglass and Mattel casting facilities; CERAMICS dept. with its own ball mill, glaze and material testing laboratory and a fine KILN
Four years diploma program overall provides a framework which enables students to broaden their practical, conceptual analytical skills in the field of graphic design & advertising. Courses are designed to equip students with critical, creative & analytical knowledge/ skills essential provide range of career in the field of design. At the early stage of this Foundation + 3-years Communication Design studies, development of analytical techniques and drawing skills that help in visualization of ideas, are emphasized. Students get quite familiar with the history of the field of graphic design & its formal vocabulary i.e. colors, composition typography. In advance levels, students get more challenging studies where class assignments are taken more like real advertising campaign. Department enjoys the assistance of Professional visiting faculty in all related field, the facility of an exclusive computer lab to keep the perspective of the subject directly linked to the present professional requirements.
Digital Media
Karachi School of Art offers two years diploma courses in Digital Media keeping forth the latest developments in media and technologies. To impart basic understanding of design, computer graphics and concepts related to software and hardware is the main aim of these courses. The courses also support the understanding related to the new interactive products, which are currently being developed in the field of communication. These courses provide a clear outline of hypermedia production to help students understand how programs are planned, produced and on web or on air. The courses offer training in a variety of Computer Graphics Systems, in-depth knowledge on technology, methodology, & application relevant to the design production of Computer Graphics.
Selected achievements
Truck Art Caravan 1994 in collaboration with PSO, supervised by Durriya Kazi. The purpose of the project was to bring art back to the people to whom it belongs and originate from. A truck decorated by art students in socio-political perspective, loaded with a mobile gallery traveled throughout the eminent city of Pakistan from Peshawar to Karachi in a month.
1995 During Study Mehroz Karim worked as Asst Director at PTV he asst Film Jinnah 1998 Worked in Drama Srial Dusri Duniya first Pakistani play shoot in USA he started Drama in school 2005 co founder HUM Tv
Artist Exchange Program 1997 in collaboration with Scotland Transport Museum. This project Karachi School of Art sponsored the stay of an English artist Nicola Griffith and study of indigenous origin of the decoration of transport vehicles, i.e., trucks, buses, rickshaw, taxis and carts. In response to that a Pakistani artist from KSA, Afshan Abid was invited to Scotland to work and decorate two most modern vehicles — a road liner and a commuter van — in the context of typical Pakistani decoration. The road liner was kept in regular services in decorated state for six month. The commuter van became the permanent exhibit of Scotland transport museum with the well-elaborated context of the join venture between two nations and from Karachi School of Art.
Top seven positions in Athena Awards 1996, conducted by One to One communication.
National awards secured by the artists belonging to Karachi School of Art on innumerable occasions.
Academic position in board since birth of the Board of Technical Education Sindh, Karachi School of Art has always held the best track record in term of positions in board examination.
Admission in NCA postgraduate program. The standard of education in Karachi School of Art, in term of philosophy and craft, is positively recognized by National College of Art Lahore, by enrolling two graduates of Karachi School of Art in the second badge of masters program on the bases of four years diploma studies completed at KSA.
Participation in Sheraton Art Festival every year. Since the beginning of this local event Karachi School of Art has been the largest contributor amongst all art institutions of Karachi.
Commissioned paintings for Oman. In August 1999, a group of five young and promising artists — Abid Hassan, A.Q. Arif, Shariq Ayaz, Zia Haider and Moazam Ilyas Jilani — were invited at Oman's national day celebrations. The assignment was to paint on mesh and plywood surfaces. The huge paintings were displayed on eminent spots in the capital.
