Meet Fatema Josh | Visual Storyteller and Contemporary Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Fatema Josh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fatema, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have a background and graduated from an Art & Design School, thus art and creativity has always been part of my life and passion. Little did I know I would pursue Visual Arts as a career along the journey. I started painting for self therapy and my personal voice when I had a calling almost 15 years ago and found my happy place, something I reverted to for self contentment and healing quite frequently. It became such a rewarding experience that I just grew into it, although monetary gains was not initially part of it.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Art for me has been a journey of healing and self discovery. Although graduated from Art & Design school from Malaysia, where I’m originally from, I left practicing and painting for many years as I had married and moved from one country to another for some time and life happened. I lived in Rochester NY for 7 years before moving to Houston. Harsh winters and being away from family kept me indoors and sometimes feeling low. I began picking up the brush again for self therapy as I needed to express myself and find my lost passion again to relief myself and discover what made me happy. It was a time of my life where I needed to turn towards finding something that was rewarding for me intrinsically, I regained my voice and it validated me in so many ways. During those days, like 16 years ago, there was only one art store in Rochester and I picked up some art supplies and started painting during my leisure time.

When I moved to Houston in 2008, I was constantly urged by a cousin to show my work in public. I never thought that would be something I wanted to do, but eventually I did when a local gallery called Jomar Visions accepted me into a group show. After two failures of not selling even one piece of work during the show, I sold three pieces in my third show, a time I thought I’d give up on art. It was an encouragement then and my journey as a professional artist began evolving. My work has evolved since and so has my style.

Teaching was also something I was always affiliated to and in fact for 5 years before I transitioned into practicing art full time, I conducted a Montessori private homeschool for kids with a very small productive and amazing group of kids. I had two young boys then who were homeschooling with me and as a qualified Directress, helping these kids achieve reading skills quickly and making great progress with learning was extremely rewarding to see. It eventually got a little tiring for me and my boys grew older and I decided to transition to being an artist full time, although I always carried my creative side and showed my art along the way locally while teaching.

There was no stopping me after that as an artist. Determination is the road to success, and I have struggled and worked hard along the years through my journey as an artist, seized opportunities where I found them and made my way through consistently. There have been times where you do not get a positive response and fail, but resenting those failures and keeping up has been my motto for years, and God has been kind.

From doing small group shows, to being a senior member of the Islamic Arts Society of USA, I’ve had opportunities to show my work and getting curated into the City Hall of Houston twice, a Black Tie Gala, Museum, and the Public Library in the past. Islamic Contemporary Art has been a passion and a major collection of my works. I reconnect with my roots through art and incorporate a multi disciplinary style of work to reflect my vision as an artist and specifically a modern artist, retaining traditional values, as it highly resonates with my thoughts and process overall.

One of the most exciting opportunity I received in the past was being invited to feature on a television Ad Campaign empowering women with the Texas Woman’s Hospital by an Australian Director.

I’ve been fortunate to get featured in many blogs and interviews along the way and have acquired support from people who love my work and what I do. It is rewarding when someone finds a connection with my art and style and wants to acquire it for their space. I aim to spread positivity and joy through my work in every way and to be able to give my collectors a meaningful space that can be cherished for years to come and make a positive social impact above all.

I think hard work and consistency pays off and I’ve learned that through the years. I am grateful to each and every supporter of mine globally, for being there to encourage me when I feel challenged. I still have a long way to go and grow as a creative. I know it is important to take one day at a time, enjoy the journey and keep learning and evolving.

My work and vision today is to provide complete artistic services to my clients, from available collection to commissioned works to suit their interiors and preferences. I have a long journey ahead of me as a business owner and an artist, and I’m striving each day to reach goals through my work.
I also offer beautiful limited edition print scarves and glass accent trays with various products for gifting and as collectibles from Fatema Josh Fine Arts. I am also a licensing artist and am open to collaborations.
I’m always exploring new ideas and opportunities.

It is great to be part of the diversity and woman owned businesses in Houston.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in the suburbs of Houston , the Katy area and don’t really hang out too frequently in the city! I’m more of a laid back kind of girl who loves eating out and binge watch shows during my free time!

However the places in the city that I really enjoy visiting once a while is Hermann Park, with its conjoining areas and uptown. Discovery Green is also a great place to see latest sculptures and events if you’re in the city. Galleria and City Center would also be a my top choices to hang out.

For dining out, my favorite places are good Middle eastern cuisines and Asian food.
Cosmo Cafe in Houston is also a great place for a variety of dining in the uptown area.

Houston is really diverse, so I guess its never enough with what you get out there, everyone has such a different experience. The amount of food trucks here are also amazing and they’re a great way to grab food on the go or late nights, especially for me as I only consume Halal eats, the area around Westheimer is great for food trucks.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family most importantly, the worldwide community of collectors , and local artist support groups are all part of my journey and success today. My husband especially, has been there to constantly support my passion for my work and encouraged me too keep pursuing my dreams even during challenging times. My kids have always understood and recognized my passion for my work and space and have been extremely cooperative and given me time to follow my work through my unnatural schedule during the day. My family overall has been my backbone initially and today I’m grateful to have people who believe in my work truly and want to get a piece of it, even those who are completely strangers but have been following my work and journey silently through social media platforms.

Website: www.fatemajosh.com

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/fatemajosh

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatema-josh-0384a633/

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/fatemajoshfineartsstudio

Image Credits
@jujuuphotography