Abeer Kayani is Textile designer-maker with a 1st class BA (hons) in Textile design from University for the
Creative Arts, Farnham. Specialising in hand-dyed and screen-printed textiles. I set up my business in
lockdown producing silk scarves analysing sentimental objects from my homeland in Pakistan, translating my
cultural experiences to present a vibrant, quality crafted wearable art piece. A dominant element of my
professional practice is commission-based projects exploring themes of belonging, culture and my experience as South Asian diaspora. These projects bring to light underlying histories and experiences of the marginalised
communities and allow them to take their rightful space within the community.
In 2021 I worked on a project with Solent University Showcase gallery which celebrated the creativity of
Muslim women, teaching workshops on Islamic art, making it accessible to a generation of British Muslims.
This resulted in an eight-metre-long window exhibition giving representation to the creative diversity in the
local BAME community. I worked with University of Southampton partnered with BBC to examine the South
Asian immigrant experience in Southampton. The BBC archive accessed me to 1960’s resources and TV shows
broadcasted to help the community adapt to the British life along with hand written letters containing concerns
of local community. Workshops with immigrant and next generation highlighted difficulties they faced,
including racism and marginalising practices. I translated this struggle using workshop research, drawings,
language analysis with a fusion of juxtaposing positives of immigration such as diversity in culture, textiles,
food, language, festivities etc by hand-dyeing and screen-printing fourteen vibrant textile panels for the
resulting ‘Make Yourself at Home’ exhibition at John Hansard Gallery.
I have experience teaching creative workshops to various age groups and have worked with galleries and
organisations such as John Hansard Gallery, The United Voices African Associations, Woking Women’s
Group, UCA etc. I have been recognised for exceptional use of colour and quality craftmanship by the Society of Dyers and Colours, was nominated as a ‘Rising Star’ by New Ashgate Gallery and received the ‘Craft Skills
Award’ by Devon Guild followed by a Solo Showcase Award from Llantarnam Grange in Wales.
I aspire to create work centred around culture and community, sharing stories that often are overlooked. I believe taking up space is a responsibility which gives fair visibility to the marginalised communities and hope
to use my practice and skills to leave a less institutionalised legacy for those to come