Fusion of South Asian Folk Art and Western Modern Art

Masuma Ahmed

Masuma Ahmed

11 a.m., January 21, 2024

At this Sunday’s Forum we will watch a video by artist and writer Masuma Ahmed, who will be present to answer any questions and explain her work.

Masuma, an internationally acclaimed artist hailing from New York City, captures the essence of women, diasporas, social issues, and science through her award-winning artwork. Her pieces intertwine Western, digital, and South Asian arts, portraying vibrant narratives in both traditional and digital mediums. 

Combining her expertise in traditional and digital art, Masuma crafts diverse works, ranging from abstract to folk, street, and mural art. Her creations encapsulate the unspoken voices of women and diasporas—often overlooked by mainstream media—vibrantly representing their influence on US economic and cultural landscapes. 

A self-taught artist and writer, Masuma honed her craft at Stanford University, Yale University, and Bangladesh National Arts College. She shared her artistic knowledge with students at the Stanford University International Center, complemented by taking creative writing courses at Yale and Stanford. 

While holding a Ph.D. in Physics from Yale, Masuma shifted from a career in physics and high-tech to pursue her passion for art and writing in 2015. Her remarkable artistic journey has been recognized by various international galleries (Light, Space & Time Art Gallery in the US, Artist of the Four Seasons Gallery in Germany, Kolkata Art Group in India, and All Art Gallery in Brazil) and her exhibitions have graced numerous esteemed venues across the United States, from the City of Palo Alto to New York City. 

Notable among her achievements is being selected by the City of Palo Alto for the prestigious Palo Alto BLM Mural in 2020. She has also been a chalk art muralist in Redwood City for several consecutive years, alongside her mural projects in New York City and the Bay Area. 

Masuma is not just an artist but a multifaceted writer, delving into poetry, short stories, and vignettes reflecting societal and feminist issues, scientific endeavors, aging, and cultural traditions. Her poetry has found a place in prominent publications such as the NYC Poetry Table Anthology and the Bay Area Waverly Writers Collection. 

Embracing the digital realm, Masuma’s platform, “New York City Rainbow Faces”, https://www.facebook.com/nycrainbowfaces,
encapsulates the unspoken narratives of women and diasporas while celebrating the intrinsic beauty of science. 

To explore more of Masuma’s incredible body of work, visit her website. For inquiries or collaborations, she can be reached at masumaa@yahoo.com. 

You can watch her video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSWiId8npWs

1/21/2024 Masuma Ahmed from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

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On the first and third Sunday of the month, you can attend our forum in person with fellow humanists at the Mountain View Senior Center at 266 Escuela Ave, Mountain View, CA 94040. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation for lunch. Help us make sure we have room for you. If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to let us know.

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

You can also call any of the following phone numbers and then enter the above Meeting ID and the Passcode in order to join the meeting by phone.
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
You can find international phone numbers to call here.

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Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/user2798508