SHAHEEN J RAHMAN
Shaheen practices the traditional Silk Road art of paper-marbling known as ebru. This art form involves dispersing paints on the surface of water. With specialized tools, the colors are manipulated to make exquisite patterns. Paper is then placed on the water to capture the painting.
Shaheen incorporates Islamic patterns and traditions into her ebru for a wider variety of expression through this medium. Her work also attempts to connect this centuries old art form to the present. Along with traditional patterns and designs, she also includes elements in her ebru pieces using modern techniques that provide a novel flair. In doing so she is able to project her own experiences into this centuries old art form.
Through live presentations, Shaheen has been bringing ebru to a diverse audience which enables dialogue about the significance of this art form in Islamic arts and culture. These presentations have been well received and have included venues in Houston such as NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Asia Society, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, The Jung Center, numerous Harris County public libraries, and the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, OK.
Shaheen serves on the Board of Directors of Islamic Arts Society and is also a Mayoral appointee on the Board of Directors of Houston Arts Alliance.
Her Ebru art work has been on display at various venues around Houston including:
Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts
Cloisters Gallery
Houston City Hall
Harambee Art Gallery
Barbara Bush Branch Library
Octavia Fields Branch Library
Malcolm Purvis Library
Montgomery County Memorial Library System - Central Library
Kingwood Branch Library
Houston Public Library
Houston Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library
George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library
ISNA 55th & 56th Annual Convention, George Brown Convention Center
Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church
Lone Star College
Watercolor Society of Houston.
She likes to share her love for the art of Ebru and has conducted Ebru demonstrations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Asia Society, Pearl Fincher Museum, Watercolor Society of Houston, Islamic Art Society of Houston’s Annual Art Festivals, Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library, and the Raindrop House Turkish Cultural Center in Houston.
Her gallery of artwork can also be viewed on her Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Studio-Art-by-Shaheen-1609639342622508/