Traveling To Guyana With My Mother

It’s been a while since I wrote a post on this blog. I hope you missed reading it as much as I have missed posting on here. I’m always happy to stay connected with you and I pray we continue to add value to one other and our communities. Last week was so hectic and wentContinue reading “Traveling To Guyana With My Mother”

GUYANA HERE I COME!

The USA has been experiencing record-breaking heat but, and his might sound strange, because I lived in Egypt for six years, as a result I developed a high tolerance for heat and if it’s not above 95 degrees I don’t really feel it. It wasn’t always this way for me, but it’s amazing how our bodies can adapt toContinue reading “GUYANA HERE I COME!”

A GUIDE TO BUYING NSENGA KNIGHT’S ARTWORKS

I’ve put together this guide of available artworks and how you can purchase them according to your aesthetic needs and budget. I have also made some updates to my Website, so head over there for a more in depth look into my practice and my different projects. My Plateaus series which is inspired by the sufiContinue reading “A GUIDE TO BUYING NSENGA KNIGHT’S ARTWORKS”

RITUALS AND COMMUNITY: CONNECTING AND MAKING SPACE FOR EACH OTHER

“Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound byContinue reading “RITUALS AND COMMUNITY: CONNECTING AND MAKING SPACE FOR EACH OTHER”

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

  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”

Happy Birthday Malcolm X: A Black Muslim Artist Reflects

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”

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”

The Timbuktu African Manuscripts, Omar Ibn Said and Ibrahim Sori: An Islamic, Black Muslim and Black American Intellectual Continuum

I share why the Timbuktu manuscripts and the writings of African Muslims who were enslaved in America – like Omar Said and Ibrahim Sori are important to my artistic practice, and why they are an important opportunity for all of us to learn more about ourselves (especially Black people and Muslims) from those who came before us.  

Hajj Inspired Art Pt4: Abandonment

“Hajj is the combination of Tawaf and Sa’y. It resolves the contradictions that have confused mankind throughout history” -Ali Shariati  When we celebrate and think about the Eid, and why we are celebrating, and the Hajj and what it is, I’m always going to bring up Hajjar, inshaAllah. Alot of people avoid talking about her story because itContinue reading “Hajj Inspired Art Pt4: Abandonment”