Ali Hammad, the second child of his parents, was born in Pakistan and reared coincidentally in a happy, favorable circumstance where his father (Professor of English) filled in with valuable and inspiring knowledge on art and literature. With the passage of time, Ali’s appetite for drawing and painting whetted further. He ultimately was able to win a scholarship for the renowned National College of Arts, Lahore. He completed his graduation brilliantly in four years, appended with “honor”. Ali, from his childhood, developed a penchant for Old Masters. Art was something he loved the most. At college, he explored different subjects like sculpture, drawing, art history, design, etc. A place where modern art was taught and practiced, Ali Hammad carried a great interest in realism, which went diametrically opposite to the existing vogue in drawing and painting. It was a challenging journey, he recalls, where he felt himself an anomaly. He graduated in 2006, magna cum laude, and started his real journey in art. His aim has always been to explore the possibilities of paint, to make beautiful brushstrokes, to explore different tactile qualities, and to seek the truth. The works of the masters like Rembrandt, Solomon J Solomon, and J.S. Sargent have always fascinated him. Constantly learning and getting better at how to paint like the masters with the delicate play of light and shade called Chiaroscuro, remained his metier. He believes that learning is universal, and making any kind of art without learning is limited. He has worked till now as an artist in the United Arab Emirates, where teaching and studio practice keep him busy. He has done many shows both in Pakistan and abroad. His still life’s which he usually terms “a quiet magic,” as well as the figurative paintings, both remain a strong passion with him. The renowned art collectors always look to him for his new pieces. Ali won an award, a third place in the figurative category, in the 15th International ARC Salon Competition. ARC received 4,941 entries from 83 countries. His winning work was selected in the groundbreaking first-ever online auction of 21st-century contemporary realism at Sotheby’s in July 2021. Ali won the FWSD ( Fashion Week San Diego) award in the 16th International ARC Salon Competition. The winning work is included in the Lunar Codex "The Polaris Collection". Art images will be laser-etched on nickel microfiche and/or digitised on terabyte memory cards and enclosed in a time capsule on the Griffin lunar lander, launched by SpaceX, and placed on the Moon in perpetuity. The Lunar Codex is a set of time capsules launched on three NASA-related missions, including the work of 7,000 creatives. It will be the first significant placement of contemporary art on the Moon in 50 years. "The Polaris Collection" is the third and final time capsule for the Lunar Codex and will be launched alongside NASA's VIPER Rover. Headed for the Lunar South Pole, the launch is currently scheduled for the fall/winter of 2023. The launch and landing will be live-streamed. Ali Hammad is the only painter from the United Arab Emirates whose work will be sent in a time capsule and placed on the Moon in perpetuity.