ABOUT THE HOST: Najjar Abdul-Musawwir
Host Najjar Abdul-Musawwir is also an alumnus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) who
has exhibited his work regionally, nationally, and internationally. Musawwir is an award-winning painter, community-arts organizer, educator, and consultant who is presently an Associate Professor of Art teaching Studio Art and Art History in SIUC’s School of Art and Design.
In addition to his teaching duties, Musawwir is also Vice President of the African-American Museum of Southern Illinois and an advisor to the SIUC Muslim Student Association. Musawwir has an established history with public television and has been featured on Arts Across Illinois, a production of WTTW Chicago.
Musawwir is internationally recognized for his unique painting style, which focuses on contrasting colors, movement, and symbolism. Several of Musawwir’s paintings and prints are on display at The Dorsey Gallery of Arkansas, The N’Namdi Gallery of Chicago, Southern Illinois University’s Morris Library, and Shawnee Community College.
