KARACHI, April 16: Well-known artist Maqsood Ali died of a heart attack on Wednesday morning. He was 72.

Maqsood, who painted abstract designs as well as women and even trees inspired by a geometric grid derived from Sindh’s rilli, has left two daughters and a wife.

Born in a village near Lucknow, Maqsood graduated from Nootan Kala Kiketan Art School in 1956. He migrated to Pakistan the next year.

A senior artist told Dawn that Bhitshah and Sindh’s rilli were the concepts that found expression in his well-known series of paintings. One of the Bhitshah murals done by Maqsood is on display at the Arts Council in Karachi.

According to the senior artist, Maqsood started his career as an art director at the United Advertisers. He also worked as the principal of the Central Institute of Arts and Crafts in Karachi.

“In his paintings, one would discover forms being broken up. Some of the basic themes that could be seen in his work were rilli, village women, flowers, etc,” said art critic Salwat Ali.

His funeral prayers were offered on Wednesday. Soyem will be held at the Gulistan-i-Jauhar residence of the bereaved family on Friday.