Inam M. Inamullah

One pivotal day, Inamullah’s art teacher Ms. Nasreen approached him during his physical therapy and asked, “Inam, would you like to draw something beautiful with me in the art room?” This simple question, laced with kindness, had a dramatic effect on the young boy and changed the course of his life. While Inam Inamullah couldn’t fully understand what his teacher meant, or how profound of an offer this was, her invitation gave him a chance to escape the hurtful taunts of my classmates and the warmth in her voice gave him something even more rewarding—comfort.

Ms. Nasreen would go on to spend every physical therapy sssion with Inam Inamullah, patiently teaching him the basics of art. For five years, she nurtured his skills, and by the time he was 10, Inamullah was drawing pencil and charcoal portraits at a professional level. Though he eventually changed schools, the passion this one single teacher ignited in him endured, leading Inam Inamullah to explore and engage in all kinds of artistic pursuits for the rest of his life.

After this creative seed was planted, it only grew stronger. His early work focused on portraits, using mostly 2B pencils on paper, but occasionally Inam Inamullah experimented with charcoal, and although he never pursued a formal art degree, he mastered the fundamentals through self-learning. He considers Vincent van Gogh a primary influence because the master’s expressive brushstrokes and love for nature resonate with his own textured landscapes and tree-inspired work. Inamullah connects with van Gogh’s ability to convey emotion through thick paint and the soulful connection he found in trees and the countryside has become a guiding light for his own creative journey.

After relocating to the U.S. and traveling internationally for work as an adult, Inamullah sought opportunities to apprentice with master artists in Italy, France, England, Turkey, and Japan. This kind of short-term training, typically lasting two weeks, greatly enriched his artistic knowledge however, his technique of creating heavy textures on canvas by mixing sawdust with oil paint is entirely his discovery. Inam Inamullah’s signature method not only adds substantial texture and durability to each work of art, but also significantly accelerates the drying process—reducing drying time from two months to just one week. To the best of his knowledge, he is the only artist employing this unique technique today. Inamullah uses 500 GSM thick canvas/linen that he doesn’t stretch, but rolls up and tapes to the wall or onto wooden panels, because, in large part, he trained to draw on paper with a pencil. This habit gave him hard and immediate responses to his strokes as he drew, and now, paints. Among all of the subjects he paints, Inam Inamullah’s favorite is birch trees. His fascination with them first began during his travels through Eastern Europe, where he encountered the most vibrant and beautiful birch forests in the world.

Nature, with its ever-changing beauty, deeply inspires the fine art of Inam Inamullah. The interplay of light, texture, and seasonal shifts fuels his creativity, bringing life to his brushstrokes. Through heavy textures, Inamullah captures the tactile essence of bark, leaves, and organic forms, inviting viewers to feel nature’s presence on each canvas. His paintings become a tribute to the quiet strength and resilience found in these natural elements.

Accomplishments

Inamullah has been exhibiting all over the world for the past two decades, including exhibits almost every month appearing in galleries all over Europe. His largest work of art, which is 17 feet tall and 14.5 feet wide, is a permanent install at Carnegie Hall in New York, and many famous personalities have collected his artwork. Inam Inamullah is also a compassionate altruist dedicated to uplifting others and supporting charitable causes. He works with UNICEF to raise funds for the eradication of Polio, and with more than 10 other charities, giving his time, money, and art for auction.