Artist Spotlight: Alison Kysia
Alison Kysia is a Northern Virginia based Muslim woman artist. She creates abstract Islamic sculpture and socially engaged art projects to build community and connection. Clay is her favorite medium because that is the material God made us from, according to the Quran (37:11).
Tell us about yourself and your artistic journey.
I started practicing ceramics as an adult in 2000 - the dawn of a new millennium! I immediately fell in love with the material and strictly practiced wheel-throwing functional pottery. I have always loved to cook, so making functional pottery was an extension of my love of feeding people.
I created my first sculpture in 2016-2017, during a crushing experience of anti-Muslim bigotry in the workplace. I knew nothing about sculpture, and yet I was compelled to sculpt 99 clay vessels to represent the 99 Names of God in Islam. The vessels held me as a transformed person out of the painful work experience and forever changed my perspective about my relationship to clay.
What type of projects are you working on now?
I created abstract Islamic sculptures based on themes in Islam. I have several sculpture installations that include 99 individual objects. At the moment, I am creating 99 unique seed pods in an installation called The Outrageous Seeds of Al Muhyi, The Giver of Life. My work is meant to inspire contemplation about the deeper meaning of these references in our individual and collective lives. What seeds are you planting to create the transformations in your life you wish to create? What seeds do you need to plant today?
What was the biggest success of your career today?
After I created the 99 clay vessels to represent the 99 Names of God during an episode of anti-Muslim bigotry in the workplace (see question #1 above), I used it as a conceptual centerpiece for a socially engaged project called 99 Clay Vessels: The Muslim Women Storytelling Project (99clayvessels.com). Just as the vessels held me during a difficult time, I wanted to create a “vessel” for Muslim women to step into, unload some of the painful experiences they carry, and then connect with their transformative power through art & storytelling. It took two years of small group online retreats to complete and it represent what I want to do more of in the future - creating vessels for others to step into to contemplate the meaning and messages of their lives, to daydream about the visions they have for their lives, and to connect deeply with their creative power, with Al Khaliq, The Creator.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I do not need to look for inspiration, it is with me always. Inspiration comes to me in conversations with others, while cooking meals, taking walks, spending time in art galleries and studios, reading, daydreaming, and sleeping. My imagination is my superpower. Honestly, my challenge is finding ways to turn off the inspiration and rest.
What Muslim (non-Muslim) creators do you look up to or are doing groundbreaking work?
I would likely answer this question differently on any given day, but today the Muslim artists who come to mind whose work I find inspiring include Khalilah Sabree, Alia Bensliman, Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Nsenga Knight, Amirah Sackett, Diana Al-Hadid, Raheleh Filsoofi, and so many more. A non-Muslim creator who inspires me is Theaster Gates and his fusion of ceramics, religion, community building, and built environment.
What has been the biggest challenge for you in working in this field?
The biggest challenge is funding. Many Muslims do not have a culture or art buying or arts engagement. Many Muslims cannot see art beyond calligraphy, and even then, do not appreciate the time and training it takes to achieve mastery. I have a million ideas about how to promote the arts among Muslims, but Muslim funding contributions to the arts are minimal, so getting projects off the ground is painfully slow.
What advice would you give to young creators trying to break into your field?
Do not ignore the inner voices telling you to be an artist. You may need to juggle money-making jobs to support yourself, but do not ignore your art. Cherish it as a sacred gift. The world needs artists and you have to talk back to all the people who say you cannot make it as an artist or that art is just a hobby. Find artist friends to support your vision, and do not take seriously the empty advice of non-artists.
How has your work changed or influenced your perspective on the idea of faith?
Creating art is an expression of my faith as worship. God is The Creator, Al Khaliq. When we create, we are channeling the power of making manifest the unseen. It is deeply sacred work.
What is the value of having American Muslim creatives and artists creating in your field?
I cherish my relationships with Muslim artists because they understand me on a soul level, they understand my work in ways that need far less explanation. Muslim creatives also challenge stereotypes about Muslims in such beautifully creative and complex ways.
What’s next for you in your artistic or creative journey?
I need a public studio to grow my art practice, foster social engagement, and promote other Muslim artists. I have a studio in my basement and I am very thankful for it, because artists need their quiet place to work, but it is not the right setting to invite others in. My life has always been about service and giving voice to the voiceless. I need a place to grow community and connection through the arts.
You can learn more about Alison and her work at 786Arts
photo credit: Syed Yaqeen for American Muslim Experience
