Shaheen Rahman is a Pakistani-born American who has lived in North America for more than 40 years. Originally, a Plant Biologist by training (M.Sc. University of Montreal), she discovered watercolors about 14 years ago and immediately fell in love with this medium. She merged her passion for plant life with her passion to paint and loves to illustrate botanicals and flowers in watercolor.

Shaheen also practices the art of “Ebru”, the ancient Turkish art of paper-marbling.  This fascinating technique involves painting on the surface of water using a stylus, as well as combs and rakes. Exquisite patterns can be made with these tools which can include stylized flora and fauna. The painting is then transferred onto paper.  Shaheen incorporates Islamic patterns and Arabic calligraphy into her Ebru for a wider variety of expression through this medium.  

Her Ebru art work has been on display at various venues around Houston including Cloisters Gallery, Houston City Hall, Harambee Art Gallery, Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Harris County Public Library Branches including Kingwood, Freeman, Barbara Bush, and Octavia Fields, and Watercolor Society of Houston.  She likes to share her love for the art of Ebru and has conducted Ebru presentations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Asia Society, Pearl Fincher Museum, Watercolor Society of Houston, and Islamic Art Society of Houston’s Annual Art Festivals, Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library, and the Raindrop House Turkish Cultural Center in Houston.

In 2017, Shaheen co-curated the first Islamic Arts exhibit hosted at Houston City Hall. With art works of local artists, the exhibit was recognized by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and brought Islamic Arts Society into the Houston limelight.

Her gallery of artwork can be viewed on her Facebook page.