Join us for another season of the popular Tatreez Circle with Joanna Barakat, a gathering where makers come together to embroider meaningful motifs and connect through the shared practice of stitching.

Tatreez, the centuries-old craft of Palestinian embroidery, reflects the richness of Palestinian identity and cultural storytelling. Passed down through generations, this practice values slow, intentional stitching over fast-paced production. In this session, participants will gather as a circle of makers to work on their own tatreez pieces while exchanging knowledge, techniques, and inspiration with fellow practitioners.

This is a guided yet relaxed, peer-based session designed for participants who already have a basic understanding of tatreez. Whether you have recently begun learning the craft or have been practicing for years, the circle offers dedicated time and space to focus on your personal projects in a supportive and collaborative environment. 

Over time, these gatherings aim to cultivate a sustained community of makers at 421 Arts Campus, with future sessions contributing to a collective embroidery project that will be developed collaboratively and eventually showcased at 421.

Accessibility & Participation

Participants are asked to bring their own embroidery projects and supplies.

Open to ages 18 and above

Basic knowledge of tatreez is required.

Language: English and Arabic

About the Instructor

Joanna Barakat expresses her deep-rooted connection to Palestinian culture through her mixed media artwork, which combines painting and Palestinian embroidery. She uses her art to advocate for Palestine, challenging collective perceptions and stereotypes while exploring transcendental ideas through self-reflective work. Now living in Abu Dhabi, Barakat was born in Jerusalem, raised in Los Angeles and then moved to London for university, where she received her BA in Art and Design from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London and her MA in Global Media and Postnational Communication from SOAS, University of London. Along with being featured in numerous publications, Barakat’s work has been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London and the American Museum Katzen Art Center in Washington, DC. In addition to her artistic practice, Barakat shares her passion for Palestinian embroidery by teaching workshops and curating content on her Instagram page, The Tatreez Circle. She is the author of Narrative Threads: Palestinian Embroidery in Contemporary Art, which is forthcoming with Saqi Books in May 2025.