Folds of memory, 2026
This textile-based project explores collective memory through the act of folding; drawing from a repetitive gesture practiced by the artist’s grandfather during the middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease. As verbal communication faded, folding became a quiet, embodied language shared within the family. The project translates these gestures into textile form, treating fabric as a carrier of memory and care. Each textile captures a unique folding technique recalled by the artist’s aunts and uncles. Though the gesture remains constant, each memory varies, exposing how recollections fracture and shift between individuals. These differences weave together a collective archive. Each folding technique is paired with a material personally associated with the artist’s memory of her grandfather: a napkin as the primary form, a book reflecting his relationship to the Arabic language, and a newspaper crossword recalling moments of routine and focus. These materials are integrated through unique folding methods, transforming remembrance into physical construction. Color functions as an emotional language within the textiles, with each palette reflecting a specific feeling. Each piece is embroidered and printed with the verse { فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا } the last verse her grandfather shared before losing speech. The works are printed on 100% cotton thoub fabric, chosen for its personal significance as the artist’s grandfather’s preferred material. This artwork was developed through the support of Misk Art Institute.
| Category: | Painting |
|---|---|
| Qty: | 1 |
| Size: | 5 * 5 * 5 |
| Material: | Hand-Stitched Textile On Layered Fabric (Linen & Cotton), Mixed Textile Techniques |
| Framed: | No |
| Edition: | 1/1 |
| Country: | Saudi Arabia |
| Shipping from: | Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia
Lulu Alghofaili
Lulu Alghofaili is an interdisciplinary artist and designer whose practice explores memory, the invisible forces that shape human experience, and the relationship between the body, the natural world, and our surrounding environments. She holds an MFA in Design and Technology from Parsons School of Design and a BFA in Graphic Design with minors in Book Arts and Sustainability from Otis College of Art and Design. Working primarily with textiles, artist books, and sustainable materials, Alghofaili incorporates natural elements as both conceptual and technical components within her practice. Through processes such as drawing in water, folding, layering, embroidery, and printmaking, she moves between analog and digital methods to translate memory, emotion, and human connection into physical form. Her work creates a visual language where experiences are carried through texture, repetition, and transformation. Alghofaili has participated in artist residencies including Masaha Residency at Misk Art Institute (2025), where her work was acquired into the institute’s collection, and Intermix Residency (2026), organized by the Visual Arts Commission. She is currently participating in the ISDAR × Art Threads Residency (2026). Her selected exhibitions include Coollect, Atrum Gallery, Riyadh (2026); Spiraling Ashore, The New School, New York (2024); Las Laguna Art Gallery (2021); IMPRINT: Emerging Artists, Misk Art Institute, Riyadh (2020); Young Artists Showcase, Misk Art Week, Riyadh (2020); and SHIFT, 2426 Art Gallery, Los Angeles (2019). Her work has received awards from Grey Cube Gallery, Art Room Gallery, the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, and ITSLIQUID. (Artists of the Month, 2020)
