Much like the butterfly’s lifecycle, my journey as an artist has been one of consistent metamorphosis. Despite varying forms and focuses, themes of empathy, compassion, and self-reflection have remained constant throughout my creative endeavors. My first attempts at artistic expression led to a television series on ARY Digital. The Boys, which aired in sixty countries, encouraged introspection about problematic cultural norms in Pakistan. These themes found new forms as I explored new mediums. My first photography exhibit, Reign of Oppression, examined injustices rooted in social, political, and cultural hierarchies. Along with my early paintings, it examined the effects of these forces, particularly how they disproportionately affect the lives of women. Dollar a Day, another early exhibit, aimed to give a face to the countless individuals around the world surviving on less than a dollar a day. Over time, my focus expanded to include the new creatures I was discovering and their ties to humanity’s actions and attitudes. Moving from the city to the countryside brought me face-to-face with wildlife I had never encountered before. In pursuit of the perfect shot, I occasionally found myself in harm's way, unaware that the area harbored dangers such as the tarantula hawk, whose sting is among the most painful in the world. These encounters didn’t just result in some of my strongest photographs; they taught me the balance required when engaging with nature.

 

This newfound awareness found expression in my traveling exhibit, Species at Stake, which highlighted the vulnerability of the natural world in the face of human choices and indifference. Featuring poster-sized prints of wildlife displayed on the floor, the exhibit challenged viewers to consider why stepping on images of living creatures felt more uncomfortable than stepping on the actual creatures they represent. For over two years, the exhibit was showcased at the National Butterfly Center, which was recognized by Time magazine as one of the “World’s Coolest Places” and a premier destination for children during that period. My work has since been featured across the Rio Grande Valley at venues including the historic Border Theatre, Brownsville Museum of Art, Chase Tower, Edinburg Art Museum, Mission Chamber of Commerce, Mission Hospital, Mission and Pharr Public Libraries, Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, the Upper Valley Art League, Valley Nature Center, and the Weslaco Museum. Around the same time, I released my first book of nature photography, Rio Grande Valley Nature, along with the Texas Wildlife series, both of which invite audiences to reflect on their relationship with the environment.

 

Now, Rio Grande Valley Butterflies represents the next step in this ongoing transformation. It is both a celebration of the natural world’s beauty and resilience, and a call to cherish and protect it. Like the creatures featured in my work, humans once moved in harmony with nature, our migrations guided by the seasons and the cycles of the Earth. Though we often forget it, we remain part of this larger, interconnected flow of life. Through my photography, I hope to share not just the wonder of butterflies but also a universal truth: life, in all its forms, is a fragile gift, and every journey, both big and small, is worth honoring.