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Asma Ahmed Shikoh, mixed media
Her art reflects the union of two cultures —
Muslim and American — that haven’t always
meshed. But Asma Ahmed Shikoh has met the
challenge head-on; the Pakistan-born artist has
chronicled her move to this country in bold
brush strokes. Like “Self Portrait,” an acrylic
work that depicts the Statue of Liberty in her
own image and wearing a Pakistani bridal
dress. And a series of portraits of Muslim super
heroines, would-be masked champions garbed
in colorful attire who suggest the empowerment
of strong Muslim-American women.
She believes her works help to blur the lines
between cultures and allay the concerns of both.
“I create art to make a difference,” said Shikoh,
44, of Ellicott City. “In this climate, if it helps
me bring people together and [evoke] a sense
of peace, then I am contributing to a more
understanding, tolerant and loving society.”
A three-dimensional piece, entitled “The
Beehive,” is a honeycomb of nearly 100
cardboard cells, each of which contains a hijab,
the traditional headscarf worn by Muslim
women who provided them for the project.
“It’s all about freedom of choice,” said Shikoh.
Why a hive? Because worker bees are female.
Her latest work, “Salam Ellicott City,” done
at her studio at the Howard County Center for
the Arts, is a bird’s-eye view of the old town,
done in colored pencil. Each building on Main
Street is accounted for, as is the Patapsco River,
which has flooded the street time and again.
Look closely at the river’s surface: what appear
to be tiny blue squiggles are, in fact, hundreds
of repetitions of the word salam, done in script.
Salam is Arabic for peace.
“Water has wreaked havoc here,” said Shikoh,
“so I wrote ‘salam’ to bring peace to the town.”
Detail of a work entitled, “The Home
Series: Salam Ellicott City” (2022, colored
pencils on paper) by Shikoh.
howardmagazine.com | SUMMER 2022 | 49