mustaali raj

  • Mustaali Raj is an independent visual artist and designer with a multi-disciplinary practice. Along with celebrating and advocating for diversity in the creative sector, Mustaali’s creative approach centers around community building, elevating concept and designing for social good. Being both a third culture kid and an avid traveller, his sense of belonging extends well beyond geographic boundaries. This multi-faceted sense of belonging and experiences play an important role in exploring intersection of identities through his work. He is a circle, living in a square, drawing triangles.

  • Rooted in conceptual thinking, my art practice is geared towards reinterpreting traditional motifs in contemporary and graphic activations. Patterns and script have layers of symbolism, histories, and hidden narratives, which continue to be more than just marks on a surface. It’s not unlike language in many ways, how the origins get blurred over time. How do symbols and icons evolve? Do they retain their original meaning or take on new roles depending on the user? How do they fit into the current context of society? These are some questions that I explore through a culmination of themes drawn from architecture, patterns and nature.

  • Lost & Found / Indianama 2024

    Burrard Arts / 2023

    HOPE / Two Rivers / 2023

    YVR Banners / 2022

    Science World / 2022

    COEXIST / Platforms 2020

    JAALI / ISF 2020

    Cartographic Anxieties / 2020

    Indianama / 2019

    Tota Project / 2019

    BUILD Creative Pulse / 2018

    Watershed+ / 2017

  • Adobe Design Achievement

    Ad Rodeo

    Applied Arts Awards

    AToMiC Design Awards

    Behance Features

    Canadian Regionals

    Cannes Lions

    Cannes Top 10 (2024)

    Communication Arts

    GDC National Scholar

    GRAPHIS New Talent

    HiiiBrand International

    Jim Rimmer Scholar

    Marketing Awards

    Mosquers Film Awards

    NAC Challenge

    OpenBrand Rising Star

    President's Design (Japan)

    RGD UltraBold

    RGD W. Canada Award

    Salazar Awards

    Strategy Awards

  • RGD DesignThinkers (2023)

    RGD Designthinkers Panel (2020)

    Salazar Keynote (2020)

    ISF Artist Interview (2020)

    CIMA Workshop (2020)

    GDC Practivism Keynote (2020)

    Type Brigade №47 (2019)

    Spiritual Arts Workshop (2019)

    VCC + RBC Workshop (2019)

    Capilano University (2018-19)

    EUCAD (2018)

    PICA Conference (2014)

  • The Message / Heinz Taylor Swift

    RGD UltraBold Feature

    Daily Hive / i OF THE TiGER

    UC Brand New / Friday Likes 87

    CBC / Indian Summer Fest

    Georgia Straight / ISF Festival

    Featured Artist — ISF

    CBC News / Cards for All

    Vancouver Arts Review

    CNN News 18 / LOC Project

    Instagram Feature / 30 DR

    RED FM Radio — Interview

    5X Press — 30 Days Project

    2018 Design Trend Report

    Hey There/ Design Feature

    CBC Radio / Mosquers Feature

    Sea of Glass / Divers Mag.