Heraa Khan
Heraa Khan is a visual artist originally from Pakistan, currently based in Edmonton. She earned her BFA from the National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan, and her MFA from the University of British Columbia Okanagan in Kelowna, BC.
Khan has participated in a variety of artist residencies, including the League Residency at VYT in New York and the TILT residency at HCMA in Edmonton. In addition to her studio practice, she has taught art courses and facilitated workshops across Canada, Pakistan, Austria, and the United States, including at the University of British Columbia and the International Summer Academy of Fine Arts in Salzburg, Austria. Her work has been exhibited internationally, with group and solo exhibitions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Iran, and Pakistan.
Heraa’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in masavari, a centuries-old tradition of Indo-Persian miniature painting – a tradition typically experienced through books or museum collections. She brings this historical art form into dialogue with contemporary issues, reflecting on environmental concerns, personal experiences, and the Canadian landscape through her compelling works. Edmonton’s rich environmental discourse and its complex elemental history provide the perfect context for Heraa to deepen and expand her practice during her year-long residency at Harcourt House.
The Artist-in-Residence (A-I-R) Program was established in 2002 by the Board of Directors and Management of Harcourt House Artist Run Centre as a Millennial Project. Now entering its 23rd season, the program continues to support and champion artistic development across Canada. The A-I-R Program is open to Canadian visual artists working in any studio-based or multidisciplinary practice. Designed to support artists at various stages of their careers, the program helps participants advance their professional trajectory, recognizes the vital role of artists as cultural innovators, and supports the transition of emerging artists into established practices. Residency benefits include: a dedicated, professional studio space, opportunities for research, community engagement, and teaching, and a materials stipend. The program culminates with a solo exhibition of works developed during the residency. The artist receives CARFAC artist’s fees for the final exhibition. The Artist-in-Residence Program offers artists a supportive, focused environment in which to create, reflect, and grow – while also engaging meaningfully with the broader arts community.
Top Image: Mitti (detail) 2024, Gouache, natural pigments and tea on handmade vasli paper, 16 x 25 inches.
Courtesy of the artist
