Behance

Soundcloud

Artist Statement

As an American-born Eurasian Muslim woman, I have a great burden to bear in the creative industry in America as I am usually the face of an entire culture and religion for many people I work with. I use this unfamiliarity and curiosity to my advantage when it comes to my artwork and storytelling. I hold value in honesty, humanity, and compassion in all aspects of my life, be it personally or professionally. People comment on my confidence, diligence, and inclusivity. Because I face the feeling of what seems like isolation on a daily basis, I am highly empathetic and end up bringing everyone together and try putting a smile on their faces before we part.

​Biography

Hawa Rahman is a Muslim American art teacher from Detroit, Michigan who is an artist mastering her technique and refining her style. Rahman believes that, with her work, ignorance has a possibility to be relieved of its place in peoples' hearts. There is too much hatefulness and fear of the unknown in this world for her not to grab a pencil and paper and show everyone what humanity really means. Hawa was personally chosen by the insideOut Literary Arts Program in Michigan to represent the city and region as the first ever Detroit Youth Poet Laureate, Midwest Regional Ambassador, and finalist for the National Youth Poet Laureate title in 2016-2017. She has performed her poetry in front of an international audience on the final Grand Slam stage in the Youth Speaks' Brave New Voices 2015 Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, called back for the Youth Speaks' Brave New Voices 2016 Competition to judge the final Grand Slam in Washington D.C., along with being invited to be the international poet in the Cascadoo festival in Trinidad&Tobago by the coach of the country's slam poetry team, and had the honor of meeting the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama in the White House. .

​Hawa has a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Illustration and a minor in Fine Arts and is pursuing an Art Education Teaching Certification from the College for Creative Studies. She is a High School Art Teacher at Frontier International Academy - Detroit.

Teaching Philosophy

I believe in giving every student the opportunity to learn and grow through visual arts, connecting art to other subjects and building core skills in creativity and design. Visual arts serve as stepping stones in interdisciplinary studies, whether it’s solving problems in math, designing science posters, or exploring ideas. My goal is to foster curiosity and confidence, encouraging students to take charge of their learning while I guide them with thoughtful questions and support. By creating a caring and trusting environment, students can freely take risks and challenge norms, leading to a deeper understanding of the world. Ultimately, I want to inspire a lasting love of learning that extends beyond the classroom.

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