Zunaira Mufti | Masjid-e-Qurtuba: Love Carved in Stone

Zunaira’s artistic journey is rooted in her cultural heritage, architectural training, and love for storytelling. Originally from Pakistan, she explores the intersection of art, architecture, and symbolism, drawing on cultural, spiritual, poetic, and nature-inspired themes. For her, art is both a spiritual connection to nature and a way to express universal emotions and ideas.

Through her studio, ZDot Design, she integrates creativity with community, hosting inclusive workshops and events that encourage self-expression. As an instructor at the First Ontario Arts Centre Milton and a member of the Fine Arts Society of Milton, she shares her passion to inspire, connect, and foster inclusivity.

She is the co-founder and a member of The Artist Cube.Her work has been showcased in numerous exhibitions and recognized with multiple awards for her artistic excellence and contributions to community art projects. Zunaira’s mission is to create impactful art that heals, connects, and inspires. Through her practice, she strives to build inclusive spaces where all voices and identities are celebrated.

My painting Masjid-e-Qurtuba: Love Carved in Stone pays homage to the enduring grandeur of the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. The painting invites the viewer into its courtyard, where a still pond reflects the arches—symbols of love, devotion, and resilience etched in stone. At the center rises the minaret, now transformed into a bell tower, standing as a solemn witness to centuries of change. Inspired by Allama Mohammad Iqbal’s famous poem “Masjid-e-Qurtuba”, the work echoes his lament that this sacred space has not heard the call to prayer for generations. The arches, painted with care and reverence, embody the unshakable spirit of a civilization that once illuminated Spain with faith, artistry, and knowledge. Above, hues of yellow capture the radiant rise of Muslim Spain, while deep blues mark its eventual decline. Together, these elements create a narrative of memory, transformation, and the eternal bond between faith, history, and human creation.