Asma Arshad Mahmood is a Toronto based artist. Born in Lahore, Pakistan Asma completed her initial education in arts in Islamabad under the tutelage of noted artist Mansoor Rahi. She trained as a ceramic and pottery artist in Bogota, Colombia after she moved there in 1985. She held her first professional show in 1991 in Bogota.
After returning to Pakistan in 1991, she was accepted as apprentice by Raja Changez Sultan to develop her figurative artwork. She extensively exhibited her figurative paintings that had distinct influence of Changez.

She moved to Canada in 1999 and has been exploring the contemporary practice of installation and multi-media art besides painting. Asma plays an important role in activism through arts on various levels in Canadian Diaspora. She has exhibited her work at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum and Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.

Asma has served on the Board of Directors for SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Collective) and community editorial board of Toronto Star and as chair of Artcity in Toronto. At present she serves on the board of Mississauga Arts Council, heads Canadian Community Arts Initiative and acts as Project Director for Cre8iv80 Studio. She is also the Festival Director for Mosaic, the South Asian Heitage Festival of Mississauga.