A multidisciplinary artist who has worked with various forms over the years, from performance art to calligraphy, to sculpture, his career has spanned over 60 years, and he is still creating, writing and curating to this day at the age of 87. He has been working as a visual artist bridging life, art and activism since his arrival in London from Pakistan in 1964. Rasheed has described his practice as a journey, with interruptions, swerves, obstacles, and overcoming.  

Araeen began his artistic journey in the late 1950s in Karachi, where he initially worked as a civil engineer. However, his passion for art led him to pursue a career in creative expression. He experimented with various artistic styles and mediums, including painting, sculpture, and installation art.

He is infamous and controversial for being a critic of the contemporary art scene as he was set to do an exhibition at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham and his proposal was declined when the other ten artists refused to show their work alongside his. Their opposition not only manifested cultural conflicts but was also meant to defend the purity of the gallery space where Araeen had proposed to perform the slaughter and consumption of a goat (according to the Muslim ritual of Eid-al Adha). Along with the actual performance, he had announced that he would display and tear up "the pages of a contemporary art history book".

He says that he faced a lot of discrimination throughout his career as the galleries of London said: "‘We love your work, but sorry, we can’t show you.’ I asked: ‘Why not?’ And they said: ‘We only show American and English artists.’ That meant they could only show white artists. My experience of the art world in London was shattering." Araeen's curatorial work has been instrumental in promoting non-Western art and challenging the dominant narratives within art institutions. In 1989, he curated the groundbreaking exhibition "The Other Story: Afro-Asian Artists in Post-War Britain" at the Hayward Gallery in London. The exhibition showcased the work of artists from African, Asian, and Caribbean backgrounds, challenging the exclusionary practices of the mainstream art world. 

In 1987 he founded the ground-breaking journal Third Text. Third World Perspectives on Contemporary Art and Culture, dealing with art, the Third World, Postcolonialism and ethnicity. His writing is still being published with the recent release of his book Islam & Modernism, a collection of essays that delve into topics such as Muslim identity, philosophy and a critique of modernity.

Rasheed Araeen continues to be an influential figure in contemporary art, advocating for diversity, inclusivity, and social justice. His artistic practice, critical writings, and curatorial endeavours have made a profound impact on the art world, challenging established norms and opening up new avenues for artists from marginalized communities.