A thread travels across continents, from the marketplaces of Freetown to the boulevards of Paris, from the sundrenched streets of Los Angeles to the quiet rhythm of Cambridge, weaving together memory, material and meaning.
Zainab Sumu is a contemporary artist whose work spans sculptural fibers, couture, and painting. Each piece is a vessel of heritage, ritual, and beauty. Through her studio, Znabu, she explores the spiritual and aesthetic power of tradition, infusing kindness and storytelling into every thread and form.
Her practice draws from sacred African traditions to reframe global narratives. By centering the beauty, dignity, and complexity of Africa and its diaspora, she reveals the universal truths that connect us all.
Rooted in sustainability, her pieces are often created with hand-dyed organic yarns, leather remnants, and plant-based inks. They offer a tactile language of resilience and reverence.
Zainab resides in Cambridge, and works out of her studio in Somerville.