Hamida Madhani is a Georgia based contemporary artist, designer, educator, and an owner of a web studio . Her art has been commissioned by collectors internationally and has been exhibited in galleries across the US. She has also been active in community service. For the past few years she has donated several of her art pieces to the Aga Khan Foundation Partnership Walk Silent Auction to help raise funds to support communities in some of the poorest areas of Africa and Asia.

Artist Statement

As far as I can remember, I never experienced a dichotomy between seeing and thinking, between perceiving and reasoning. My thinking has always taken place in the realm of imagery. As a little child I used to draw and use various pictorial techniques to explore and articulate my visions. As a consequence, art and thought became indivisibly intertwined for me. Beauty and harmony, structure and order, selection and organization were for me, the natural results of thinking about objects. I was brought up in diverse cultural environments and exposed to different languages from a very early age, and this has helped me refine my way of thinking, which I term perceptual or visual thinking.

I was born in Burma and moved to Islambad where I was exposed to the Arabic script. I was immediately attracted to the beauty and elegant curves of the script. At a very early age I moved to Germany, completed my education in Business Studies and toured around Europe. There I spent countless hours in historical art galleries and museums, admiring the works of European painters. However, I never considered myself artistic then although I have always had a passion for 2D and 3D art. Therefore when I moved to California I decided to pursue a career in Visual Communication after obtaining my degree from UCLA in Computer Science.

During my studies I was introduced to many software applications that were used to design computer arts and visual effects in multimedia. Once I mastered the powerful tools, the possibilities to explore my visual thinking became limitless. I would sketch a script or an object on a digital canvas using a pressure-sensitive tablet; then I would use some of my favorite software tools to refine it and create visual depth.

I term my work, "decorative abstract", as my pieces are primarily based on shape and color relationships and are created to enhance one's living and or work environment. My art somehow seems to reflect my emotions and is inspired by something deep within me and from my experiences; from the impact of modern European art masters, to the celestial and terrestrial forms around me, to cultures of the exotic lands I have visited.

Although I work with various medias, including, acrylics, ink, canvas and fabric I seem to be drawn towards the digital one much more than others. Somehow the digital media allows giving me greater spontaneity and flexibility going beyond the barriers of traditional media.  As an artist I find compelling joy in participating in this unfolding paradigm.

It is not quite clear to me whether my artistic affinities or my computer-related work is most important to me. Sometimes, I cannot see any clear-cut boundary between them. I regard myself as an artist who has turned the computer screen into her canvas. For me digital art begins in the mind of the artist with a notion of synthesis, using all the software tools and the traditional processes together to make something that has not yet been imagined.

Past Exhibitions

- Presented a talk on " From Art to Spirituality - A Personal Journey" at the International Ginan Conference, London, 10/29/2011
- Art Exhibition at the IGC Conference, London 10/29/2011 - 10/30/2011
- Art Exhibition at the IC, London, 11/01/2011
- Ethnomusicology International Conference, University of Alberta, Edmonton, 04/2011
- Al Soqour Royal Vila, Abu Dhabi, 02/2011
- AKF Partnershipwalk, Atlanta GA - 2003 to 2010
- Emory University Art Gala, 03/2010
- Emory University Art Gala, 03/2009
- Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce Gala event, Atlanta GA, 10/2009
- The High Museum of Art Atlanta, GA, 06/2009
- Villa Costa Luci, Florida, 06/2008 & 07/2009
- AKDN Exhibition, Expression of Love & Devotion, Atlanta GA - 2008
- AKDN Exhibition, Expression of Love & Devotion, Houston TX - 2007
- Focus Art Gala, San Diego CA - 2007
- Contemporary Art Gallery, NY - 2006
- Illuminations, Atlanta GA - 2002

Publications & Awards

-  H. Madhani: “Artist profile – The Majestic Horse”, Simerg.com, 01/2011
- H. Madhani: “Artist profile - Ismaili Mail website”, Canada, July, 2010
- H.. Madhani: “Good Things Come in Layers - Design Tutorial article”, Creative Technique Magazine, New York, summer 2008, pg. 60
- H. Madhani: “Healing Brush Art - Design Tutorial article”, Creative Technique Magazine, New York, summer 2007, pg. 58
- H. Madhani: “The Perfect Blend, Design Tutorial article”, Creative Technique Magazine, New York, fall 2006, pg. 78
- H. Madhani: “Creating Photo Mosaics, Design Tutorial article”, Creative Technique New York, summer 2006, pg. 80
- H. Madhani: “Timeless Devotion”, Ismaili US Magazine, 07/2006, pg. 10
- H. Madhani: “Thinking with the Senses”, Ismaili US Magazine, 07/2004, pg. 45 
- Computer Edge Art & Design Award, CA, 2002
- H. Madhani: “Illuminations Exploring our Diverse Heritage”, Ismaili US Magazine, 12/2000, pg.5
- H. Madhani: “Digital Art Inspiration”, Computer Edge, CA, fall, 2000
- H. Madhani: “Graphic Communications”, Palomar College Magazine, CA, summer, 1999