Saima Kaur is a hand embroidery artist whose work is inspired by the textile traditions of Punjab, India. She creates artworks and prints for interiors, and has worked in collaboration with independent businesses and interior designers. In her practice Saima aims to subtly transforms figurative Punjabi Phulkaris, to tell new intimate stories in dreamlike settings.
Saima’s stitched stories primarily feature south Asian female protagonists in places where they are free to dream, play and be bold. She also makes artworks featuring stylised birds and beasts, similar to those found in Punjabi Phulkaris, as these translate well into limited edition prints.
Saima’s colourful embroideries demonstrate her keen knowledge of her craft, its techniques and possibilities. She is especially adept at creating new designs and exploring unusual colour and stitch combinations. Each artwork is developed through academic research and an ongoing practice that relies on intuition as much as technique. In their own way, Saima’s artworks offer an alternative to contemporary textile practices, leaning towards subtle, abstract, naturalistic designs and colours.
