Born in Mirpur Khas, Pakistan in 1968, R. M. Naeem completed his BFA with distinction in 1993 from National College of Arts Lahore, Pakistan and is associated with his alma mater as an Assistant Professor. In the past twenty-five years, he has to his credit 16 solo shows within Pakistan and abroad and has curated a number of important shows of local and international artists. Naeem’s work has been exhibited in numerous group shows nationally and internationally, including The Asian Art Biennale, Dhaka, Bangladesh (2004 & 2006), The International Artists’ Biennale Iran (2006), The Pyeongtack International Art Festival at Lake Museum, Korea (2006 & 2007), Art Expo Malaysia (2010), Slick Art Fair, Paris, France (2010), Affordable Art Fair Singapore (2011), Affordable Art Fair, Melbourne, Australia (2012), India Art Fair, Delhi, India (2014), Sindh Art Fair, Karachi, Pakistan (2014) and Jaipur Art Summit, Jaipur, India (2014). In 2012, Naeem was also selected for Saatchi Online Artist, 100 curators 100 days show. His work has also been exhibited in Sri Lanka, Oman, Bahrain, UAE, Hong Kong, China, USA, UK, Germany, Norway and Canada.

Over the course of his career, Naeem has participated in 17 art camps and juried art residencies at international locations. He has also conducted various art-counseling workshops in Pakistan and abroad. In 2015, he was selected by the Embassy of China to experience Chinese art and culture, and represent and promote Pakistani art and art education in six cities of China. He represented Pakistan in New York at “New Pathways, Contemporary Art from Pakistan” curated by Tanzara Art Gallery, organized by Pakistan Embassy, United Nations. Since 1994, he has been promoting art through education at his studio – STUDIO RM. In 2008, he initiated the Studio RM (International) Residency Program in Lahore, Pakistan. In 2018, he was the short-listed artist for “Erasmus+ international credit mobility staff teaching week” at Middlesex University, London.

R. M. Naeem’s work has garnered several scholarships, awards and prizes in Pakistan, including the Provincial Best Painter Award (1991 & 1992), First Prize in Best Short-Short Film Category in Punjab Film Festival 2014, Lahore, Summer Film Festival 2014, Mainz (shortlisted), Kunsthalle Mainz 2014 (shortlisted) and National Award of Excellence in 2003. His work can be seen in various private and official collections both within Pakistan and aborad and has been featured in local and international art publications. He currently lives and works in Lahore.