Farrah is a graduate of the prestigious National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore. She specialized in Asian Miniature Painting specifically in the style of Mughal Miniatures of the Subcontinent. She has received her degree of MA in Art Education from the Beacon House National University (BNU, Lahore) in 2016.

She has delivered many lectures and conducted workshops at several well-known colleges, universities and arts institutions nationally and internationally i.e., U.K, U.S.A, Austria, France and China on various subjects related to visual arts. Currently, Farrah is continuing her art practice from her studio and conducting workshops on Traditional Miniature Painting at Tumair (Farm-area zone) Islamabad. Her work focuses on socio-political issues. In most of her work, the attention is drawn to the abuse of power in all aspects, which is the root cause of a corrupt and unjust system. The emphasis of her work is on Peace and Humanity. In her work, she combined contemporary art with traditional miniature painting.

She is a Chairperson/Associate Professor at the Department of Art and Design, COMSATS University (CUI), Islamabad Campus. At CUI, Farrah has also established the COMSATS Art Gallery (CAG) in 2011. The gallery has a great standing in the art circle and institutes. She has curetted many exhibitions at CAG and has thus promoted many local, national and international artists and in this regard, she recently received an award from the President of Pakistan, Honorable Mamnoon Hussain Besides 3 solo shows, Farrah has participated in more than 140 National and International group exhibitions including those held in U.S.A, Canada, U.K, Austria, France, Hong Kong, China, Baku (Azerbaijan), Tehran, Jeddah, India, Bangladesh, U.A.E, Bahrain and Greece.

She has received the prestigious Charles Wallace Visiting Fellowship Award (UK) for the excellence in the field of Traditional Miniature Art. Ms. Mahmood has conducted several workshops in the UK as well. The Art House in Wakefield, (U.K) awarded her the Artist in Residence in 2009. She has also been awarded Residency by the Austrian Federal Chancellery in 2006. She was nominated for the Sovereign Art Competition in 2015. In 2016 she was awarded a gold medal by Markaz Group International Magazine (MGM).

Farrah is one of the “Winner of Imagining our Future Together” organized by the World Bank. Her work has been included in the World Bank permanent collection at the Headquarters in Washington. D.C. Additionally, her work is also included in the permanent collections of The National Art Gallery, The Parliament House of Pakistan, Ministry of Science and Technology in Islamabad, Austrian Embassy, Secretary Charles Wallace Trust, The Embassy of People Republic of China and the U.S Embassy in Pakistan.

Artist Statement

Surroundings fascinate me as an artist. We are part of a society which is a combination of different emotions such as pain, happiness and joy. I use symbols like the lotus flower, which represents the purity of a female, the rebirth, and self-regeneration, in many eastern religions. My work conveys messages through symbols, colors and connections. I also like to give importance to individual feelings and emotions. Through my artwork, I want to give women confidence and strength to live their life the way they want without societal pressure without having to feel unsafe. Most of my work focuses on the abuse of power in all aspects which is the root cause of a corrupt and unjust system. In simple words, my work promotes peace and humanity.