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In pictures: Alumni of Colour Association x UAL Showcase collaborative exhibition

Guest looking at work
  • Written byEleanor Harvey
  • Published date 12 June 2025
Guest looking at work
Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed

In June, the Alumni of Colour Association (AoCA) hosted an exhibition of new work by recent University of the Arts London graduates.

The exhibition, displayed at Chelsea College of Arts, was titled ‘Home, heritage and transcendental cultures’ and was the culmination of a 6-month collaboration with UAL Showcase. AoCA committee member Samar F. Zia led the project and curated the final show.

Six recent graduates took part in the exhibition: Sonia Abbas, Anika Alamin, Omamah Ashmeel, Damin Choi, Talbia Nasir and Zeina Soliman.

The artists were mentored to each develop a new piece of work by Samar and fellow AoCA committee members Anette Farnando, Raayfaye Ali Sheikh and Nils Zaman.

The evening was a real success, where guests enjoyed speaking to the artists and mentors, as well as interacting with the work on display.

About the project: 

Members of the AoCA selected and curated a collection of artists whose projects are currently on UAL Showcase. The collection, titled 'Transcendental Cultures', looks at the notion of home and heritage through the lived experience of 6 recent graduates. The AoCA volunteers then supported and mentored the graduates to each develop a new piece of work for the in-person exhibition.

Explore the 'Transcendental Cultures' collection on UAL Showcase.

Samar standing and smiling to the camera
Curator Samar F. Zia, Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
People standing in a line giving a speech
Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
It has been a journey, from selecting the artists and curating the collection on UAL Showcase, to mentoring 2 artists - Damin and Anika, attaining new dimensions in their very diverse practices - and finally curating the exhibition at Chelsea College of Arts. This opportunity helped foster relationships with creative alumni, both new and old, through group crits as well as the in-person event. I feel immensely proud in spearheading this pilot project and look forward to future instalments.

— Samar F. Zia, curator and AoCA committee member
Participating in this AoCA project has been an incredible journey. I was experiencing a lot of personal circumstances during this period such as moving house and fasting for Ramadan, so there was a lot of hurdles for me to tackle, however all the support from my mentor Raafaye and the other AoCA team members helped so much and I couldn't have done it without them. They pushed me to create a final piece I was satisfied with and gave me constructive feedback to help me develop my work further.

— Sonia Abbas, BA (Hons) Fashion Photography 2024, London College of Fashion
Being part of the AoCA project and being mentored by Nilufar Zaman gave me space to reflect on how my experiences of home, heritage, and identity shape the way I create. It was powerful to be part of a space where those stories weren’t just celebrated but deeply felt across so many different disciplines as well as the audience.

— Talbia Nasir, BA (Hons) Graphic Design Communication 2024, Chelsea College of Arts
This mentorship program helped me build confidence, lean into my strengths and explore natural materials in new ways. I began working with materials I hadn’t explored before, which opened exciting possibilities and led to the creation of new work.

— Anika Alamin, Textile Design Graduate Diploma 2024, Chelsea College of Arts
It was amazing to create work as a part of the UAL community even after graduating! I was grateful to be able to work with such amazing, helpful mentors and alumni. The whole AoCA journey was inspiring and brought a spark to my own studio practice too!

— Damin Choi, BA (Hons) Fine Art 2024, Chelsea College of Arts
I've thoroughly enjoyed mentoring a recent UAL graduate — it's been a truly reciprocal experience, as I’ve learnt as much from her as she has from me. It’s been rewarding to see her work evolve and to watch her thoughtfully engage with the feedback and suggestions I’ve offered. I'm especially impressed by how she pushed herself to create an entirely new body of work. She told me that this showcase provided the motivation she needed to step outside her comfort zone and take her practice in a new direction. I’m excited about the potential to continue developing this dialogue and relationship further.

— Anette Fernando
I’m so pleased to have connected with these 2 incredibly talented young women. One is an exceptional illustrator whose work is not only technically beautiful but deeply personal. Her ability to weave meaningful narratives through her craft is truly alluring. The other is a gifted photographer whose imagery feels both nostalgic and intimate, full of subtle threads of home. Their creativity and sensitivity are genuinely inspiring.

— Raayfaye Ali Sheikh
Mentoring my graduate and seeing their work showcased at Chelsea College of Arts as part of the AoCA x UAL Showcase project was an absolute pleasure. The experience was incredibly fulfilling, offering a fresh perspective and a deep sense of accomplishment. It was truly rewarding to guide and support my talented mentee. Witnessing their growth and creativity firsthand was an unforgettable highlight.

— Nils Zaman

Photos from the evening

All photos by Ali Mohamed

3 black and white photos hanging on a white wall, with 2 small side tables covered in white cloth placed in front. On the table there're pens and henna.
'Ghar' by Sonia Abbas, Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
2 woven pieces hanging on the wall. There's 3 side tables in a row to the right, all covered in white material with small bowls on top.
'Woven Figures' by Anika Alamin, Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
4 artworks hang on a white wall in row. Underneath are small tables with white cloth over them In the foreground is a low table covered in bright blue, white and red patterned cloth with 3 china bowls on.
Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Screen hanging on a wall. On the screen is a hand drawing an intricate illustration of a building.
'Time to Place to Space' by Damin Choi, Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Close up of white, earthenware ceramic bowl and 2 plates with small green snakes painted in the centre and Arabic writing round the edges.
'Echoes Beyond' by Talbia Nasir, Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Anika standing next to her work, a woven piece in blue and white
'Woven Figures' by Anika Alamin, Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Zeina standing in front of her triptych of work
'Stories of Nablus' by Zeina Soliman, Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Talbia crouching next to her work on display
Talbia Nasir, Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
A guest drawing on artwork
Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Zeina and a guest looking at her work
Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Group of guests looking at work on display
Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Guests reading a booklet
Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Guests looking at a black and white photo
Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Guests drawing on black and white photos
Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Guests in the exhibition
Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
Guests looking at screen
Omamah Ashmeel, Home, heritage and transcendental cultures, June 2025| Photography: Ali Mohamed
The hands of guests on the pages of a booklet.
AoCA committee (l-r): Raayfaye, Nils, Annette. Samar and Linett Kamala | Photography: Ali Mohamed

Alumni of Colour Association

The AoCA is a supportive community of alumni to help increase the visibility and representation of people of colour in the creative industries. They create opportunities to share ideas, knowledge, skills, stories and networks to increase confidence and spark empowerment.

Find out more about the Alumni of Colour Association.

UAL Showcase

UAL Showcase is an always-on global platform. It presents the latest work in art, communication, design, fashion, media, performance and creative computing from graduates, and it offers an exceptional directory of new creativity.

Explore UAL Showcase.

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