Threading portraits

“My portraits feature inspirational figures and revolutionary leaders. People who have made contributions in their field, whether as politicians, doctors, teachers or even poets,” 19-year-old portrait artist Almas Khanam Jan shares. (Courtesy of Almas Khanam Jan)

Meet the 19-year-old portrait artist from Pakistan paying homage to her heroes in a unique medium.

Few portrait artists gain international recognition for their work, fewer still create a new medium. At just 19, Almas Khanam Jan has managed to do both.

Almas is an artist from Pakistan who uses thread to embroider detailed portraits on fine mesh flour sieves. In September 2022, she won the top prize in the Freedom of Religion or Belief category in an art competition organised in the United Kingdom (U.K.) by Bellwether International, a British non-profit. Almas’ piece depicted a woman in traditional Pashtun clothing playing the flute, which represents the artistic desires of women from her region in the context of cultural restrictions. Almas recalls the moment she received news of her winning the prize as among the happiest in her life. “I was crying tears of joy, I couldn’t believe it. I often think back to that feeling and it motivates me,” she said.

Growing up under the shadow of militancy in the Malakand region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan, Almas never received any formal art education. She explained that art education is not prioritised anywhere in Pakistan, but students in big cities still manage to get some exposure to arts. “However, in places such as Malakand in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa there is not a single art class taught up to college level. This is such a tragedy.” 

Almas creating an embroidery portrait of Malala Yousafzai. (Courtesy of Almas Khanam Jan)

However, Almas was lucky to grow up in an artistic household and was exposed to various art forms from a young age. Almas’ father, a teacher and poet, encouraged all his children to become artists. Her artistic journey began with experimenting with sculpture, drawing, painting and embroidery. However, in any art form she tried, Almas always created portraits. “My portraits feature inspirational figures and revolutionary leaders. People who have made contributions in their field, whether as politicians, doctors, teachers or even poets. Creating their portraits is my way of celebrating them and their contribution towards the advancement of rights,” she said. 

But being the 10th of 11 siblings — several of whom are painters, sculptors, singers and musicians — the only way to stand out was to do something truly unique. “I was stirred by the idea of doing something different,” she said. 

Almas’ piece depicts a woman in traditional Pashtun clothing playing the flute, which represents the artistic desires of women from her region in the context of cultural restrictions. (Courtesy of Almas Khanam Jan)

By the time Almas was 15, she was already embroidering portraits on cloth. But one day, spotting a flour strainer (in her mother’s kitchen, she was struck by the idea of embroidering on it. “The first portrait I created on a sieve was of Malala Yousafzai who is an inspiration to me because of her work for women’s education,” Almas shared. 

Thus a new medium was created. Almas didn’t know of anyone who had embroidered portraits on a mesh sieve. In the beginning, she says, her portraits were basic and used only black and white thread. However, over time, as she developed her style, she began to add shades and colours and her portraits became more detailed. 

Almas Khanam Jan with her brothers. (Courtesy of Almas Khanam Jan)

Over the next few years, Almas embroidered portraits of other revolutionary leaders she admired such as Nelson Mandela, Che Guera and Pashtun leaders such as Bacha Khan, Hamid Karzai, Amel Wali and the Afghan president Ashraf Ghani. “It’s my way of paying them homage and introducing them to the world,” she said. 

In addition to the prize she won in the UK, Almas has also received recognition for her work at the national and regional levels, winning the Pride of Pakhtunkhwa and Pride of Malakand awards. In 2019, she also had the opportunity to present Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, a portrait she created of him. “I never studied art at school. If without formal art education, I can achieve so much success, imagine if all girls received art education what they could create,” she said.