May 21 – July 5, 2026
Opening Reception: May 21, 4:30 – 6 PM
Desmond Tutu explains the African concept of Ubuntu as follows, “My humanity is inextricably bound up in yours.” In other words, by denying someone else’s humanity, we only diminish our own. This is the conceptual thread that runs through Fawzia Khan’s work. She reflects on the current political climate and the polarization of the populace. Through textiles, audio, sculptural works and installations, Khan seeks to remind viewers of our common bonds and the need to recognize ourselves in each other, upholding the contributions of all to a functioning society. As a former physician, she swore an oath to “First, do no harm.” As an artist, she creates visually engaging and arresting works that ask us to have compassion and understanding for all.
Bio: Fawzia Khan is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Hopkins, Minnesota. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, to Pakistani parents, she immigrated to the United States at age 12. A former obstetrician/gynecologist, she returned to Minnesota State University Moorhead to study art, graduating with a BFA in 2005 from the University of Minnesota. Khan’s work is best described as social commentary. She examines issues that reveal humanity’s frailties and foibles, engaging viewers and opening space for dialogue and reflection. Working in a variety of media, she uses art to examine societal conflicts. To see the “other’s” point of view acknowledges our shared humanity and creates the opportunity for understanding and resolution.
Khan received Minnesota State Arts Board grants in 2020 and 2024, and was a 2022 and 2025 McKnight Fiber Artist Fellowship finalist. Her work is included in many public and private collections and she is one of the featured artists on the Twin Cities Public Television program MNOriginal. Khan is an active member of two national multiethnic artist collectives, the Habibtis and the Paglees, and the Interfaith Artists Circle in the Twin Cities. She has been a juror for the Minnesota State Fair Arts Competition and served to develop a public art program in Hopkins, MN. She is a current member of Form + Content Gallery in Minneapolis.
