Disrupt the Narrative
Art Is Rebellion,
Storytelling Is Magic
Welcome to my Wonderland, I’m Ali.
I’m a multi-disciplinary artist, writer, bibliophile, and nefelibata.
My art—in all its forms—is rooted in a desire to disrupt the narrative, question everything, and tell a damn good story. While seemingly wide-ranging, at it’s core, my art explores the human experience, using ceramic, textile and literary mediums. It is a form of rebellion, an act of devotion, and a way of engaging with and trying to understand the world.
I also happen to really love books. I love reading them, writing them, talking about them, hell I even like the smell of them. Books provide insight into our own lives and the lives of others, offer new perspectives, take us on wild adventures, and open our minds to new knowledge and deeper understanding of the world. A good book, at the right moment, can heal, it can inspire, it can quite literally change your life. Books are magic. I write about books, make art about books, collect books, and I use them to guide my coaching practice (a method known as bibliotherapy) and offer curation and book recommendation services, if you find yourself so inclined.
So whether you’re here for the book talk, my writing, or my art, welcome.
Ceramics
As a little girl, I was always playing in the mud. I loved the way it felt squishing between my fingers and toes. The joy found in defying the maxim that well-behaved girls don’t get dirty. Maybe this has nothing to do with my obsession with ceramics, but maybe it has everything to do with it.
I began my ceramics career with wheel-throwing, but quickly added hand-building and sculpture. A story-driven artist, my practice allows me to explore the questions too big to hold inside, and connect through concepts some may consider taboo.
Textile Art
My mother, a talented seamstress, used to take me on trips to the fabric store. Running my fingers along the bolts of fabric—the soft cottons and linens, the smooth velvets—then watching my mother transform it into beautiful clothes, or my figure skating costumes, I fell in love with textiles.
Discovering macrame, weaving, felting, punch needle and embroidery opened a new way for me to connect to those early seeds my mother had planted, in a way that felt authentic to me. There’s something deeply meditative about the repetitive process of fibre art that I find soul soothing.
Writing
Till death do me part. A voracious reader since I was a little girl, reading has been my escape when life is overwhelming; it’s taken me on adventures I could only dream of; inspired me; given me new insights, perspectives of and empathy towards others; and helped me to better understand myself. Words are a form of magic than can heal, empower, educate, inspire and transform.
Naturally, I became a bit of a word witch myself. Writing has long been my outlet for expressing every big feeling, for my curiosity, and my imagination. I write for the same reason that I breathe, because it is necessary to sustain my life.
Books
Some people will call it an obsession, I call it a love affair. Books are nothing short of magic—a powerful kind of magic. It’s why certain types of people try to ban books—they are afraid of the power books possess. The power to inform, to inspire, to connect, to empower readers. Yes, books are powerful—they can change you, they can change the world.
I consume books as if they were required for my survival. To me, they are. I collect books. I talk about them every chance I get. I write about books. I curate collections. I use books to help people navigate their lives. Books are a love language; this is me loving you.
“Today is my moment, Now is my story”
- John Denver