SHAHEEN J RAHMAN

Shaheen practices the traditional Silk Road art of paper-marbling known as ebru. This art form involves dispersing paints on the surface of water.  With specialized tools, the colors are manipulated to make exquisite patterns.  Paper is then placed on the water to capture the painting.  

Shaheen incorporates Islamic patterns and traditions into her ebru for a wider variety of expression through this medium.  Her work also attempts to connect this centuries old art form to the present. Along with traditional patterns and designs, she also includes elements in her ebru pieces using modern techniques that provide a novel flair. In doing so she is able to project her own experiences into this centuries old art form.

Through live presentations, Shaheen has been bringing ebru to a diverse audience which enables dialogue about the significance of this art form in Islamic arts and culture. These presentations have been well received and have included venues in Houston such as Museum of Fine Arts Houston, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Asia Society, Pearl Fincher Museum, Watercolor Society of Houston, Islamic Art Society’s Annual Art Festivals, Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library, Raindrop House Turkish Cultural Center in Houston, and Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, OK.

Shaheen serves as Board President of the Islamic Arts Society and is also a Houston mayoral appointee on the Board of Directors of the Houston Arts Alliance.

Her Ebru art work has been on display at various venues around Houston including:

Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts

Cloisters Gallery

Houston City Hall

Harambee Art Gallery

Islamic Arts Society’s annual Arts Festivals

Barbara Bush Branch Library

Octavia Fields Branch Library

Malcolm Purvis Library

Montgomery County Memorial Library System - Central Library

Kingwood Branch Library

Houston Public Library

Houston Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library

George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library

ISNA 55th & 56th Annual Convention, George Brown Convention Center

Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church

Lone Star College

Watercolor Society of Houston