As 2024 comes to an end, I’m filled with gratitude and reflection. This year has been a deeply transformative journey, marked by creativity, connection, and the culmination of years of dedicated work.
During my two-year fellowship at the Queens Museum, which ended in November, I had the privilege of engaging in transformative work that deeply shaped my practice. From collaborating with incredible artists, scholars, and researchers to organizing public programming and studio visits, the experience allowed me to grow both professionally and personally. It culminated in my largest exhibition to date, Close to Home, alongside the development of To Know One Another, my newest social practice project. This fellowship has fundamentally influenced how I connect art with community and continue to explore its potential for fostering understanding and dialogue.
Two Years in the Making: The Opening of Close to Home May 19th, 2024
One of the most defining moments of the year was the opening of my solo exhibition Close to Home at the Queens Museum in May. This exhibition, the result of two years of research, experimentation, and collaboration, has been an exploration of cultural preservation, diaspora identity, and the intersection of African, Caribbean, and Islamic traditions. I am deeply moved by the support of everyone who showed up, shared about the exhibition, and engaged with its themes. Thank you for making this journey so meaningful.
Launching To Know One Another on May 24th, 2024
To Know One Another, my newest social practice project, has been a highlight of the year. This project brought together incredible individuals who embody the spirit of connection and community.
For To Know One Another, the project brought together over 100 participants, including museum professionals, artists, and people of various backgrounds from Queens and across New York City, who spent time talking, learning about one another, and sharing tea with mint. This intimate yet impactful setting became a powerful way to build connections, highlighting the importance of conversation and shared experiences in bringing communities closer together.
Special guests included:
Sibok Shahid Najee-ullah, on July 27th, 2024, Head Instructor at the renowned SWAM Dojo in Jamaica, Queens.
Basirah Raheem, on September 20th, 2024, visionary poet and founder of OPPYMCO.
Chloë Bass, on September 20th, 2024, multiform conceptual artist and co-founder of Social Practice Queens.
Their participation enriched the project, making it a space for deep dialogue and mutual understanding.
Engaging Events and Public Programming
Throughout the year, I hosted numerous events that delved deeper into my research and artistic practice. Highlights include:
- An online verbal description tour for visually impaired visitors of Close to Home.
- Islam, Africa, and Decolonization, a profound dialogue with scholar Umar Sheikh Tahir.
- Cairo and Pan-Africanism, an online conversation with Kribsoo Diallo and Mohamed Yehia exploring the cultural and political significance of Cairo.
- Two open studio events, On Place and Process: In Situ Artist Fellows in the Studio.
These events offered opportunities to engage with diverse audiences, fostering dialogue around critical themes and ideas.
A Note of Gratitude
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported my work this year—by attending events, visiting Close to Home, or sharing about it with others. Your presence and engagement have meant the world to me. This year has reinforced the importance of community in my practice and has inspired me to continue exploring art’s potential to connect and transform. Thank you for being part of this journey. I look forward to continuing the dialogue and creating together in 2025!
As I look to the future, I’m committed to continuing this journey as a full-time artist—but I can’t do it without your support. Joining my Patreon is a powerful way to help sustain my practice and ensure I can keep creating art that resonates and inspires.
My In Situ fellowship at the Queens Museum gave me the rare gift of working as a full-time artist for two years, supported by a full-time salary. This allowed me to create without limits, deepen my work, and engage communities profoundly.
As I move forward, I’m committed to continuing this path as a full-time artist, but I need your support to sustain this vision. Your contributions enable me to keep creating, connecting, and building projects that inspire and transform.
You can support my work through Zelle at nsengak@gmail.com or join me on Patreon. Every contribution makes a meaningful impact and helps ensure that art remains a force for connection and change.
Together, we can build a future where art continues to thrive as a force for change.
