Awards Reception: December 5, 2017, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
On Exhibit December 5 – January 6
Reception Saturday December 16, 7-9pm
In her exhibition titled Har Mausam Rangeela, Urdu for Every Season is Colorful, artist Asma Chaudhary presents her commentary on socio-cultural narratives affecting South Asian and minority communities in pursuit of the American Dream. Asma celebrates the vibrant artisan handicrafts of Indian and Pakistani villagers while infusing her somber perspective as a first-generation, American-born Muslim who at times, feels marginalized in what she defines as Home.
The artist continues to explore her fascination with domesticity, identity, as well as repurposed and yarn wrapped structures to represent spaces for dialogue. Throughout the gallery, she has several sculptures that originate from reused furniture, kitchen hardware, and fixtures that are wrapped in miles of embroidery yarn and jingle bells to signify her Bollywood-inspired techniques and heritage. She will also present a variety of functional lampshades created from dome-shaped objects such as garden planters that illuminate and cast shadows throughout the gallery and upon its patrons. Furthermore, the artist will share intimate pen and ink drawings of the structural forms that inspire her work and private photographs offering a glimpse into her personal triumphs and heartaches. Proceeds from her artwork sales will go to charitable causes assisting women and orphaned children.
Asma Chaudhary holds a Master of Fine Arts (InterArts, 2013) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Graphic Design and Journalism, 2008) from George Mason University. She is also an adjunct professor for two digital new media courses at GMU. Her work has been published four consecutive times in Studio Visit Magazine (Volumes 25, 27, 30, and 31) and in the 2017 edition of American Art Collector. She is the recipient of the 2016 Editor's Choice Award by the National Maker Faire, 2014 Best of Show Award by the Hylton Center, and had her work selected by critics and curators from the Washington Post and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Asma's work has been shown throughout the country in several museums and galleries, including the Muskegon Museum of Art and the Dennos Museum in Michigan, Craven Arts Council and the UNCW Gallery in North Carolina, BJ Spoke Gallery in New York, Guilford Art Center in Connecticut, The Rymer Gallery in Tennessee, LuminArte Gallery in Texas, Union Street Gallery in Chicago, as well as the Gallery O on H Street and the Edgewood Arts Center in Washington, DC.
