Home has always been defined by more than one place for Sayma Ali.
Raised between Bangladesh and the American South, the Atlanta-based multidisciplinary artist turns recycled materials, discarded plastics and found objects into captivating works of art – as well as expressions of identity and connection.
Artist: Ali (also known as Sayma Hossain) was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She left there when she was six years old. In 1997, the family immigrated to the United States, settling in Norcross, in the Atlanta area.
She received her BFA in textile design from Georgia State University in 2016. After graduation, she worked for the next eight years in various corporate positions, including professional bookbinder at Blue Sky Papers in Roswell before deciding to pursue being a freelance artist full-time.
Ali, who has creative space in Murphy Rail Studios in southwest Atlanta, has had her work exhibited internationally and across the South.
Art & materials: Textile works that are hand-woven and machine stitched, using mostly thrifted, vintage, plastic,and hardware-store raw materials. Currently, Ali is using lots paracord, metal frames, grids and rice bags ($300 to $10,000).
Themes:
- Environmentally conscious.
- Discarded and recycled materials.
- Mental health in the South Asian diaspora.
“I gather what has been cast aside and recompose it into layered tapestries and immersive environments,” said Ali.
“These forms hold memory and labor, inviting a reconsideration of value, touch, and the rhythms of consumption and renewal,” she added.
Must-have tools: Left-handed scissors (she is a leftie), thread cutters and zip ties.
Inspirations:
- Sheila Hicks, El Anatsui and Rana Begum.
- Brutalist architecture.
- Being in nature: hiking trails, camping and rock climbing (Ali often uses climbing robes in her art).
Special commissions:
- Patagona’s Beltline store on Krog Street, Atlanta.
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Her work is part of the exhibit, “Talking Across an Expanse” in Terminal South. On view through 2026.
Recent honor: Artist residency at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN. May 2026.
Recent project: One of 12 installation artists selected for the Hambidge Center’s annual art auction at the Hambidge Hive, a pop-up gallery and event space in Atlanta. 2026.
Where to buy or commission: cargocollective.com/saymaali
Connect:
- Instagram: @saymaa.h
