We were lucky to catch up with Raeesah Islam recently and have shared our conversation below.

Raeesah, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve ever taken on is Utopia Feni, the creative vision I began actualizing almost a decade ago. When I studied at The London College of Fashion, I’d work towards this sustainable brand that would utilize ethical sourcing and provide opportunity for my dad’s village in Feni, Bangladesh. It was only a dream at the time until I moved back to Virginia Beach in 2014. I needed a purpose and with my health issues at the time, I realized I couldn’t make many other opportunities work. I embarked on this vision to at least start with funding an art program for the village to grow into my ultimate vision. With that in mind, we started with a single art show to bring awareness to this cause. That art show sparked a drive I never knew I had because once the signage went up for the show, I never wanted to take it down. Through hosting more shows, classes, open mic nights, and more- we discovered we were actually filling a void here locally as well. As we’ve grown, so has the community around us. It’s been a great place to start visions for many artists including myself.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

When I was growing up, I wasn’t a great student. I had many health issues with Job’s Syndrome and couldn’t keep up in school (nor did I really care to). I was in and out of the hospital with many surgeries and treatments. There was a point when I was 5yrs old that the doctors had to remove 17 of my teeth at once. I had two spinal surgeries before going into high school which required me to wear back braces to school. I struggled with my skin, my body, and my confidence. All of that to say was that art was the saving grace in my story that kept me going. It was the only craft any of my teachers acknowledged I was talented at so thats what I put my energy into. I started with art enrichment classes, to a gifted program at Old Donation Center in Virginia Beach, VA to The Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, VA to my alma mater London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts in London, UK.

Once I started Utopia Feni, my drive and my confidence kicked in to create something realistic and sustainable to inspire artists of every kind. We went from simple DIY art shows to working with world class museums like the Chrysler Museum of Art and festivals like Pharrell’s Something in the Water. I didn’t feel like I had access to many opportunities so I created one to share with anyone else going through the same struggles. I’ve always done my best to include everyone who truly wanted to be included. The problem we solved was having a place to begin with.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative in this community is discovering a spark in someone and building a journey out of it. When patrons would first come into the gallery wondering what it was, I would ask “Are you an artist?” Most of these people surprisingly would say no or hesitate “well I do this one thing…” and show me things they created over the years. I would then confirm yes, they are artists even if its not in the box they thought it should be in. I could feel a sense of relief from both of us that yes, we are here for a reason. With our open mic nights, we helped jumpstart the journeys and careers of many artists just by providing a warm welcoming place to be your self. As a first generation Bengali American Muslim woman along with the rest of my adversities, I’ve known what its like to be discounted and I’ve always made an effort to make sure the people around me share my opportunities.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I believe my story in general illustrates my resiliency. The doctors told my parents I’d be ill for my whole life and I wouldn’t be able to function like a normal person. No one had expectations that I’d really excel in anything because of this. My drive was sparked by the freedom to not have any pressure on that aspect of my life so I was able to dream as big as I wanted to. When I got meningitis in 2015, it took me back to my core and I realized I might not have much time to create much more. I put in all the energy I had and somehow came out with more. I’m the healthiest I’ve been in my life with the least amount of medical mishaps in the last 31yrs that I’ve been alive. My parents are the reason I got to pursue my dream because they saw what power it had for keeping me alive. I’ve always been a fighter for all things good. I believe creativity truly healed me despite the lack of hope I was told to have.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://utopiafeni.com
• Instagram: @raeesah.757
• Facebook: @utopiafeni
• Linkedin: [email protected]
• Twitter: @raeesah
• Youtube: utopia feni creative studios

Image Credits

Amiya Islam
Careyann Weinberg
Mojofoto Co.
StillJayBird Photography
Midnight Media Co.
Ciara Justice