Q&A with Zain Almutawa
Zain Almutawa is completing her MFA in Visual Art in 2026 and showing work in the cohort’s thesis exhibition, “Apparition.” In this Q&A, she shares insight into her thesis project, what has surprised her, and more.
Briefly describe your thesis project. What themes are you exploring, and in what mediums/with what materials?
My thesis research explores the intersections of sanctuary, surveillance, and the performance of identity within the domestic interior. Through a body of work that includes large-scale paintings, detailed miniatures, and an ongoing sketchbook project, I explore the notion of what it means to have agency and autonomy through veiling and unveiling the self.
What do you hope someone feels when they experience your work?
I hope to remind them that they, too, are the agents of their own identity and performance. Just as I have reclaimed my autonomy through these works, I want the viewer to feel empowered in the construction of their own self.
What has been surprising as you’ve worked on this project?
I realized that I cannot separate or shelter my work from the social and political, especially since identity exploration is so integrated into these systems. I was also surprised to find that my visual language is more deeply inspired by writers and philosophers than by other painters.
Was there anyone early in life who had a big influence on your creativity?
My mother — watching her design and style herself, and involving me in the process of pairing and matching colors and patterns — is my biggest influence.
What’s something about WashU and the Sam Fox School that you’ll miss?
I will miss living and working alone. It is an unmatchable experience feeling like I have full autonomy over myself and my work, even when the autonomy itself is illusory.