Photograph by Mary Rozzi

Samira Idroos

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Samira Idroos is a devoted  and intentional artist. Idroos’s conceptual works combine distinct cultural references to story-tell around shared histories and engage in critical commentary. She employs religious texts and pop culture symbology to progressively question dynamics of power, gender and ownership. 

Her training in painting guides her process and compositional vocabulary. In her current body of work (2020 - present), Idroos uses prayer rugs as a platform to study the boundaries of history, language and materiality. The prayer rug becomes a portal of universal themes. Idroos recontextualizes the ancient object through designs that vary in text, scale, shape and images. Idroos blends sacred and secular symbology to catalyze necessary conversations around capitalism and colonialism.

In a mainstream culture that often misrepresents Islam, Idroos’s artistic process and research-based approach allows her to negotiate belonging and facilitate connections. Her syncretic identity draws from multiple cultures. Idroos gives homage to the lands she comes from as well as the land she inhabits. Her work is subtle, poetic and provocative.