Tuesday 26 May, 1-hour sessions starting at 10am, 11.15am, 1pm & 2.15pm
Venue: Reading Museum
Price:
Suggested donation £4 or pay what you can. Booking essential
What:
A visual art workshop with Afghan artist Fakhira Nezami. Have a go at creating your own miniature painting and illuminated artwork in these brilliant sessions!
Fakhria Nezami is an artist from Afghanistan specialising in calligraphy, miniature painting, and illumination, with a practice rooted in the artistic traditions of Khorasan and the Herat school.
She was born in Pakistan during a period of migration and later returned to Afghanistan, where she completed her schooling. She trained at the Turquoise Mountain Institute in Kabul, where she specialised in traditional arts. Following her graduation, she worked as an instructor at the Institute for two years, contributing to the training of a new generation of artists. Alongside her teaching, she entered Kabul University through a special examination and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design at the Faculty of Fine Arts.
Nezami has held numerous exhibitions across Afghanistan, including at the National Museum and National Archive, as well as within the Turquoise Mountain Institute. Internationally, her work has been presented in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, Turkey, several African countries, the United States, and the United Kingdom, including at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. Her work has also been exhibited at cultural institutions such as the embassies of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, Canada, and at UNAMA.
In addition to her exhibitions, she has conducted workshops in Afghanistan and internationally, including teaching at the Turquoise Mountain Institute and leading workshops in cultural institutions and embassies.
Her work has received recognition through awards, including third place in a national calligraphy design competition in Afghanistan and third place in an international competition in miniature painting.
Alongside her artistic practice, she established her own studio and creative business in Afghanistan, working across traditional arts, fashion design, jewellery design, and carpet design, while supporting a group of emerging artists.
She is currently based in the United Kingdom, where she continues her artistic practice through exhibitions, workshops, design work, and public talks on art and cultural heritage.
Her practice has recently expanded across both Afghanistan and the United Kingdom, reflecting a renewed direction and the development of new ideas. Rooted in the artistic traditions of Khorasan and inspired by the Herat school, her work seeks to connect historical cultural heritage with contemporary artistic expression, reinterpreting traditional forms through modern design and sharing this heritage with wider audiences
Who:
Families. Aimed at ages 4+ but all welcome
When:
1-hour sessions starting at 10am, 11.15am, 1pm & 2.15pm
Booking:
Booking essential. Please email mail@readingmuseum.org.uk if you have booked a ticket but can no longer attend.
Thanks to the support of Arts Council England as part of our Museums Partnership Reading project these sessions now free! We do appreciate any donations, which go towards supporting the Museum and it’s work.
