Even in the midst of all the challenges we are facing collectively, I hope you are full of excitement for the new year. The thing that keeps people going even in the most difficult times (like the genocide we are witnessing in Palestine) is a certain hope for the future – even if that’s only the afterlife.
Before we start talking about what we are looking forward to in 2024, I want to thank you for your continued support, and to share some 2023 highlights that I’m super grateful for. You’ve been along with me for the journey, so let’s take this walk down memory lane together.
As you may remember, the first thing I did this year was perform my first pilgrimage to Mecca by making Umrah, Alhamdullilah! My Tawaf/ Sa’y series is inspired by the two pilgrimage rituals and I was deeply moved by the experience. I can best describe my experience in Mecca as “heavenly.” I look forward to being able to perform Hajj soon insha’Allah.
I was able to share both my studio practice and my socially engaged practice with you this year through the Surface Level group exhibition at Dimin Gallery in which I shared photography work from my Plateaus series in April and Muhammad School of Language and Martial Arts: Bilalian Night at the Museum at Queens Museum as part of my ongoing In Situ Artist Fellowship.
I was also invited to present at the International Symposium on the “History and Legacy of Muslims in the Caribbean” in Georgetown, Guyana. It was the perfect opportunity for me to see my mother’s country of birth, and it was her first time returning to it since she was a teenager. It was an amazing experience and I’m still blown away by the beauty of Guyana and the kindness of the people I met there.
My assistant Rawan and I worked on developing my website, making information about my projects easier to access and available as downloadable PDFs, and putting together a purchasing guide to help you decide which artwork is the right fit for you.
I look forward to sharing more news with you in the coming months about my spring 2024 solo exhibition at Queens Museum. I’m excited about the artwork I’m creating and the projects I’m working on. I feel inspired every day and I hope that by sharing my life and work with you we grow together in deeper connection with our highest selves, community, and Creator. I look forward to continuing to build community with you and finding ways to make an impactful contribution toward our collective upliftment.
P.S. I wanted to update you that my solo exhibition at the Queens Museum in New York opens May 19th and runs until September 22nd, 2024 inshaAllah/ God willing. I’m excited about the work I’m creating and the show. I’m currently inviting interested parties (businesses and individuals) to sponsor aspects of the show and programming that expand beyond the scope of our current funding (from the Mellon Foundation). Contributions are tax deductible via our fiscal sponsor and it’s a great opportunity for folks to get involved in the creative process. If you are interested and would like to know more, please email me at studio@nsengaknight.com with the subject of the email being “sponsorship” and I’ll send you a sponsorship deck with more details.