Mukhtar Kazi (b. 1977), a self-taught artist from Thane, Maharashtra, delves into abstract forms in a profound search for light. Formerly a muralist for the Saudi Royal Family, Kazi's art has matured into an exploration of intricate expressions and the quest for illumination. His work navigates life's dualities—birth and death, union and division, light and dark—engaging with intellectual, spiritual, scientific, and philosophical dimensions.

With over 25 years in art, Kazi's oeuvre epitomizes his relentless pursuit of light and self-discovery. He explores these themes through thin, transparent layers of acrylic color, with an evolving palette. Each brushstroke is a step towards enlightenment. Kazi's monotoned abstracts, characterized by cascading hues and layered patterns that illustrate his ceaseless quest for understanding, reveal hidden patterns where light and shadow interplay, often interpreted as landscapes. His evolving palette now includes white and green, reflecting a deeper engagement with these landscapes. His red series explores the coexistence of joy and sorrow, symbolizing purity and passion, while his blue-toned pieces evoke the emotional depths of the sea, inspired by his ancestors' marine journeys. His dynamic layering offers a profound reflection on life's contrasting phases, revealing unseen worlds through multiple layers of a single color to explore the sensibility of light and space.

Mukhtar is a formally trained artist with a diploma from SPH College of Arts, Malegaon, conferred by Sir JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. His solo displays include Jehangir Art Gallery (2017, 2021), Gallery Art & Soul (2022), and Shridharani Art Gallery (2022). On the international stage, Kazi has participated in the Granada Contemporary Art Expo Spain (2022), Izmir International Art Fair Turkey (2019), and the Cairo Biennale ‘Something Else’ (2023). His work has been featured in publications spotlighting influential figures such as MF Husain, Aamir Khan, and Amitabh Bachchan. Kazi earned accolades from art critic Keshav Malik for best painting at a Delhi exhibition, underscoring his eminent standing in the art world.