Nighat Idrees (also known as Guddi or Nighat Idrees O'Brien) was a pioneering mid-20th century Pakistani modernist painter. She played a crucial role in shaping the country’s early landscape abstract art. Active mainly during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, her work blended fluid abstract expressionism with semi-figurative elements. She mostly used oil on canvas to explore texture, depth and form. Idrees emerged during a vibrant era for Pakistani modernism. She regularly showcased her work at the Society of Contemporary Art in Rawalpindi. She also held solo exhibitions at the Pak-American Cultural Centre (PACC) in Karachi. A major milestone in her career came in 1982, when she participated in Pakistan’s first all-women...