For this week's Visiting Artist's Talk at the University of Leeds we welcome Thahmina Begum, an interdisciplinary artist, poet and workshop facilitator who lives and works in Leeds.

Thahmina Begum has exhibited internationally, nationally, and hyper locally. Begum is a qualified and registered Art Psychotherapist (HCPC, BATT). Her work explores cultures, identities, belonging and British /Bangladeshi/Muslim Diaspora. Begum’s work explores stories, hidden narratives and storytelling through art and art making.

Begum is passionate about making art accessible for all sections of society and the promotion of art to improve our health and wellbeing. She loves how art can give voices to communities/people that have been silenced. Begum’s work ranges from printmaking, collage, embroidery, painting, drawing, poetry and creative conversations. She loves working with communities and groups to support and ease their ideas around art and what it means to them. She attended Leeds Arts University.

Begum’s recent work/commissions include working with the British Library, Leeds Art Gallery, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Tetley, LEEDS 2023 and Yorkshire Sculpture International. Her work has featured at Artists Make Spaces (an international commission with Tara Theatre, the British Council and Britto Arts Trust), Off the Curriculum, 2023 (Commonwealth Theatre, Bradford), Woven in Kirklees (Dewsbury Fashion Show), Creative Labs, 2023 (Cultural Institute, University of Leeds and East Street Arts) and the Racial Equality and Migrants Summit 2022 (Runnymede Trust Artist in Residence).

Projects include Women’s Safety and Security in Public open spaces (University of Leeds and Leeds City Council) and The Colour Palette.

Begum is Creative Director of the ‘Creative Roots,’ a two-year project funded through the People’s Health Trust exploring heritage and culture of British Bangladeshi communities through creative arts and the celebration of the 50 years of Independence of Bangladesh.

Begum was a contributing author for Community Art Therapy (E Nolan, Routledge 2023) and received the White Rose Award for services to Women and Communities. She is a Trustee at UP PROJECTS, London, and Co Chair of the Cultural, Health and Wellbeing Alliance. She has featured in the Guardian, Financial Times Weekend Magazine, Yorkshire Evening Post and BBC Radio Leeds. 

About the Visiting Artists’ Talks series

The Visiting Artist’s Talk (VAT) series hosts talks by an exciting range of arts practitioners from around the world every Monday afternoon 2–4pm during teaching weeks.

All of our talks are compulsory for our Fine Art students but are also open to anyone else who would like to join us.

Full details about this week's talk including venue information.

Find out about other talks in the series.