Meet Yasmeen Abdallah | Artist and Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yasmeen Abdallah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yasmeen, what matters most to you?
I most value connectivity, respect, depth, dialogue and communication. These are the pillars upon which any practice initiative should be founded on, as these principles are the fundamental foundation for success in any capacity. Everyone wants to be valued, understood, seen and heard. How we treat others is a reflection of how we treat and feel about ourselves. These qualities speak to me louder than anything else ever could.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My artistic practice examines history, social movements, materiality, reuse, memory, and space. The work I create extends across sculpture, installation, textiles, painting, collage and social engagement to create immersive, inclusive and tangible experiences. I have been an artist and lecturer at numerous institutions, and have had work exhibited in the US, in traveling collections, and internationally. I hold Bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and Studio Art with honors, with a Minor in Women’s & Gender Studies from University of Massachusetts; and received an MFA in Fine Arts, with distinction, from Pratt Institute. I am interested in ephemera, aftermaths, and the stories told and secrets kept by imprints and objects that speak to our contemporary culture. The threaded needle is akin to a moth drawn to light, ripping through fabric, unraveling terrains of fibers, and suturing holes in the hearts of lonely and severed detritus. The roots of these works take form by compounding the political and personal; this practice is a tribute to resilience, resistance, and persistence as modes of survival. The intention is driven by the desire for a more regenerative, nurturing, and equitable society in which all is/are valued. I was a creative child and teenager, but being the daughter of an immigrant, it was encouraged that I do something “practical”, and I didn’t think that art as a career path was possible until I was in college. I spent most of my youth working with people: in the bar/restaurant, retail, cosmetology, and childcare industries, and recognized how important acts of care were. This was something I carried with me into the present day. I started out wanting to go into the humanitarian field, and took courses in anthropology, political science, psychology and education. It was through art, however; that I was able to put what I was learning and feeling into practice, in a way that felt supportive of people directly, and nourishing for me to continue the work, in a way that pushed back against bureaucratic systems that can cause more harm than relief. In my art practice, I create work in different media; and I curate the works of others and educate through art as a means of exercising my values through the agency of art as a tool of empowerment. It was a lot of hard work and discipline, but when you love what you do, it’s always rewarding. In addition to my creative art and curatorial practices, I also teach art at the college level, and in museum and public school settings. I also work with art nonprofits to bring art programming to underserved communities. I didn’t have a lot of access to the arts growing up, and feel that this is a change in the world that I can make through our collective efforts. Through arts programming, we provide spaces and resources to empower and inform people about issues that affect them, how they can utilize their talents to make a difference, and to create connections that they value, and to work with intention and meaning at the core of their practices.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in New York City means never having a dull moment. I would take my visitors on ferry rides around the city in the summertime, where we would visit Governor’s Island; over to the Lower East Side art galleries and to the New Museum and Tenement Museum; after which we’d stop for lunch in Chinatown. Afterwards, we could take in a film screening at the IFC theater, or Film Forum, before grabbing a bite and heading to an event or talk like Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, Interference Archive, or MayDay Space; or to a friend’s art opening, before dancing the night away at a club like House of Yes or a punk show.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am eternally grateful to all of the artists, educators, peers, and kindhearted souls who have supported, guided and mentored me throughout my career over the years. I am grateful to my ancestral and chosen family members who have nurtured my curiosity and creative path, and to all of my fellow misfits for staying true to our values and pursuits for a more just and equitable world.

Website: yasmeenabdallah.com

Instagram: @86cherrycherry

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yazz.meen.9/

Image Credits
Max Yawney, Larson Hartley