An Afternoon with Joanna Barakat | Narrative Threads
Artist. Author. Keeper of a centuries-old visual language.
Join Jerusalem-born, Abu Dhabi-based artist Joanna Barakat, author of Narrative Threads: Palestinian Embroidery in Contemporary Art (Saqi, 2025), for an afternoon of tatreez, story and conversation.
THE WORKSHOP: INTRODUCTION TO PALESTINIAN EMBROIDERY
12:30pm – 3:30pm | 12 places only
Each region of Palestine is known for its own motifs, colours and dress styles. Joanna guides you through them:
The regional embroidered dress styles from before 1948, and how they were transformed in form and meaning after
The contemporary artists reinterpreting tatreez today
Traditional Palestinian cross-stitch, through a guided demonstration
Your own stitched motif, to take home
Includes all materials, a coffee or tea from Nectar, and the author talk. No experience needed.
THE AUTHOR TALK & BOOK SIGNING
4:00pm – 5:00pm | Free with registration
Joanna presents Narrative Threads, which brings together twenty-four artists across painting, sculpture, textile, film, photography and street art, with more than 200 illustrations and essays by art historians Dr Tina Sherwell, Wafa Ghnaim and Rachel Dedman. Followed by Q&A, signing and time to connect.
To have your copy signed, purchase Narrative Threads from Kinokuniya in advance. If ordering online, order by November 20th.
ABOUT JOANNA BARAKAT
Joanna Barakat is a visual artist known for her mixed-media artwork combining painting and Palestinian embroidery. Now living in Abu Dhabi, Barakat was born in Jerusalem and raised in Los Angeles. She received her degrees from Central Saint Martins and SOAS, University of London. She is the founder of The Tatreez Circle the author of Narrative Threads: Palestinian Embroidery in Contemporary Art (Saqi, 2025).