BLOG/ NEWS - Nsenga Knight

Eid UlAdha, Hajjar, Zam Zam, and The Importance of Ritual in Islam and in My Practice

text painting with luminous circular text in foreground and black linear text in background

The Eid Ul Adha celebration is one of several hajj rituals. Around this time last year, I published a series of reflections on the hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca) and the way this ritual has influenced and inspired my Tawaf/ Sa’y series and many more of my artworks. My Tawaf/ Sa’y series for example, is inspired byContinue reading “Eid UlAdha, Hajjar, Zam Zam, and The Importance of Ritual in Islam and in My Practice”

Master Post of Nsenga Knight’s Essays on Her Hajj Inspired Art

Circular Black and white oil paint text on vegetable parchment paper. by Nsenga Knight, inspired by the sacred pilgrimage rituals of Hajj, evoking resilience and collective movement toward justice

HAJJ INSPIRED ART PT1: HAJJAR’S TRUE INDEPENDENCE HAJJ INSPIRED ART PT2: SHE RAN! HAJJ INSPIRED ART PT3: CHANGING COLORS ON ARAFAT HAJJ INSPIRED ART PT4: ABANDONMENT Purchase Limited Edition prints from the Tawaf Sa’y series here on my website and view a full collection of my hajj inspired artworks here, and my available works onContinue reading “Master Post of Nsenga Knight’s Essays on Her Hajj Inspired Art”

For Freedom… Happy Juneteenth!

Juneteenth is an opportunity to reflect on what “freedom” is and how each of us can attain it. When the Emancipation Proclamation was read to enslaved Black people, they were told that if they were to stay on the plantation of their former master, their master would have to pay them. This began the practice ofContinue reading “For Freedom… Happy Juneteenth!”

Plateaus Series at Dimin Gallery in NYC

I participated in a group show at Dimin Gallery NYC that ran from April 27 to May 27, 2023 where I showed my Plateaus series. Plateaus is an ongoing, non-linear series of abstract photographs that build upon my interest in historical archives, abstraction and the expansive possibilities of photography. I’m always thinking about the inner-workingsContinue reading “Plateaus Series at Dimin Gallery in NYC”

Happy Birthday Malcolm X: A Black Muslim Artist Reflects

Nsenga Knight and Samah Gafar at the Contemporary Image Collective in Cairo presenting X Speaks in front of a full audience. A projection of Malcolm X interview in Cairo is behind them.

On this 98th anniversary of Malcolm X’s birthday I’d like to share with you this speech by Dr. Angela Davis about Malcolm X as an international figure, as well as a my personal reflections on his life and legacy. Malcolm X has always spoken for me. I grew up attending the Brooklyn mosque Malcolm XContinue reading “Happy Birthday Malcolm X: A Black Muslim Artist Reflects”

How Silence Cultivated My Artist Voice

We are officially down to the last 10 days of Ramadan and Muslims all over the world are eager to get their blessings, alhumdulilah! As you probably know, I was living in Cairo, Egypt for six years and just moved back to the United Staes in January of this year. One of the many thingsContinue reading “How Silence Cultivated My Artist Voice”

Ramadan Mubarak from Nsenga Knight’s Studio!

Ramadan Mubarak! For weeks I’ve been looking forward to fasting and reflecting more deeply this Ramadan, and here we are. We need a Ramadan! I recently watched a news report that stated that right now, about 2 Billion people on this planet are detaching from food and drink from sunrise to sunset to observe theContinue reading “Ramadan Mubarak from Nsenga Knight’s Studio!”

Art In An Open Field

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, There is a field. I’ll meet you there..” -Rumi I was recently talking to a friend who is also an artist and in our conversation, she said that she thinks I have a more expansive view about art than she does. Later, in a conversation with my sister, she gaveContinue reading “Art In An Open Field”

Art Can Hold This

I grew up in a predominately Black American mosque community in Brooklyn, NY – which I later learned was really more specifically a predominately Black Caribbean American mosque community in Brooklyn (it’s been that way since the 1960’s) and I was raised by parents who encouraged me to do whatever I wanted so long asContinue reading “Art Can Hold This”

Fitra painting series launch, my Queens Museum studio, and finding the Aida Opera – a Cairo original in the Archives

Last week was the launch of the Fitra: Amber watercolor series on Artfare’s website. The Instagram takeover went brilliantly and I’m so grateful for the love and support I was shown throughout it. I went live to share more about the series with my community and you can still watch the videos on my FacebookContinue reading “Fitra painting series launch, my Queens Museum studio, and finding the Aida Opera – a Cairo original in the Archives”