About Me
My creative and personal artistic voice was born from finding a field full of dandelion seeds during a walk in the greens of Farnham. When I walked into the delicate, ethereal and tranquil moment with the magic of air and light, I knew that I wanted to capture this feeling in my weaving.
Feelings can only be written, heard or explained. So, I decided to write the words in my sketchbook, captured the seeds in a clear container – and this is how I began to write and express thoughts, feelings and stories with yarns! I specialise in weaving with fine natural fibres: cotton, linen, silk and wool.
Organzine, spun silk, filament and gummed silks are the main choices of yarn, as through much research I found them to capture light and air. I use colour as a tool to tell stories and am very selective due to the need of capturing the right balance. All yarns are also hand dyed, mostly with natural dye stuff.
My work is a demonstration of the breath and combination of ideologies, sensual and visual resources which I draw into the development of my personal aesthetic. These are born chiefly out of the creative interplay of memories, travel, literature, nature, old masters, the art of weaving, and concrete experiences of Britain, Islam and motherhood.
My CV
Rezia Wahid MBEArtist, Weaver, Educator
Exhibitions: Nov.2020-Feb 2021: ‘Magical Weaves’ Handweavers studio, London Feb 2019: Work Collected by TateEdit for Spring Show 2019, London Summer 2019 curated ‘Threads of Faith’ in collaboration with diverse artists, Gallery 1 Hoe Street, London Dec 2018-Jan2019: Exhibition at Fenditton Gallery, Cambridge October 2018: Curated ‘Come weave a story with a yarn or two’ A showcase of weaving produced during community weaving workshops at Wins Gallery, London Summer 2017: Loom Demonstration for Create, London December 2016: Commission to outdoor weaving outside Gnome House, London Summer 2016: London Craft Week Display and Demonstration at WMG December 2016: Commissioned to design and deliver outdoor weaving exhibition at Gnome House, London February 2015: Legend of the Muslin, Fashion Show in Dhaka, Bangladesh Summer 2014- Community Art Trail at VHM, Walthamstow, London October 2013: Parallax Art Fair, Chelsea Town Hall, London March 2012: Labbayk – Commissioned by British Museum to choreograph in collaboration with other artists rhythmic to create a performance piece with Sufi music for Islam Season. Spring 2010- Group Exhibition at Flow Gallery, Notting Hill, London September- November 2009: woven air: Rezia Wahid solo show. Leicester City Gallery Dec 2008-Spring 2009: Exhibition ‘Sartorial Sanctuary’ Museum of Art, RISD, USA July 2007- Jan’08: Shape of Things: textiles of Rezia Wahid Solo show at Craft Study Centre, Farnham, England June 2007: Woven Air Cloths with Dance by Rezia Wahid– Fashion Show at the Art of Integration Commissioned by Peter Sanders, at The Rich Mix, London
Awards January 2017: Awarded artist development grant from London Borough of Waltham Forest Spring 2016: Awarded research grant from Moorman Weavers Trust Summer 2015: Nominated to apply for Jameel Prize Jan 2009: Nomination and Invitation to apply for Jerwood Contemporary Makers exhibition. Dec 2009: Mosque in Rome I selected for Museum Collection by RISD Museum, Rhode Island. June 2005: MBE For service to Arts, London Jan Mar 2004: Alhambra Award for Excellence in art, Muslim News, UK Feb 200 2002: Elected to Full Membership, Society of Designer Craftsmen
Workshops/ Projects/ Talks/commissions ‘Master Crafters’- Commission from Sky TV July 2021- Fellowship Square – Art Installation – commissioned by Waltham Forest June 2021 – Two Day Weaving Workshop – Two Temple Place, London November 2020 – Virtual Weaving Workshop, Rich Mix, London April 2021 – Commission to create a profile film by Decorating Dissdence, London July 2020: AirLooms Project Installation with virtual exhibition and films commissioned by Barbican Art Centre, London 2020 – Commissioned by Barbican Arts Centre to create virtual workshop video Spring/Summer 2019- Commissioned by Arts Award to deliver a series of weaving workshops to diverse community Oct 2019 – Panel Discussion ‘Muslin- Our story’ Part of Bengal history month at Rich Mix Summer 2018 – Commissioned by London Borough of Culture to deliver weaving workshops in Walthamstow Spring 2017- Commissioned by William Morris Big Local to deliver community weaving project Summer 2016- Commissioned to deliver Community Workshop at Walthamstow Garden Party, London
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