Woven Paths | Khadijah Zahra Muse

These geometric designs are not just visually appealing; they represent systems of knowledge that convey encoded histories, environmental adaptations, and the stories passed down through generations. The installation draws on these findings in an abstract way. Rather than directly replicating the textiles, this work reinterprets their underlying concepts using new materials and forms. The shapes are expanded, layered, and recontextualized to invite viewers into a different kind of intimacy—one that relies not on literal representation but on providing a sensory experience of structure, rhythm, and resonance.

The work raises important questions: What does it mean to honor a practice that is no longer widely active but still holds significance in memory? How can these visual languages inform our contemporary design, construction, and relationships? Through this installation, the past is not preserved as a static entity; rather, it is activated, reimagined, and placed in a new, living context. With each breath, a kaleidoscope of textures envelops the audience.

About the Artist:
Khadijah Zahra Muse is a multimedia visual artist and arts organizer whose work is profoundly inspired by public spaces. Her artistic practice encompasses a variety of media, including photography, woodworking, sculpture, painting, and installation, allowing each concept to dictate the form her artwork takes. She began creating art in 2015 and started exhibiting her work in 2017. Khadijah is the co-founder and co-director of Soomaal House of Art, an artist-run collective based in Minneapolis that supports underrepresented voices in the arts. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Minnesota and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Architecture at the same institution. Her work has received recognition through several prestigious awards, fellowships, and grants, including the Soomaal Fellowship, the Forecast Public Art Research Grant, and the Northern Lights award.mn’s Artists on the Verge program.

Khadijah Zahra Muse is a fiscal year 2024 recipient of a Creative Individuals Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Gallery Hours:
Wednesday - Friday, 11 am - 6 pm
Saturday - Sunday, 11 am - 5 pm