AREEJ ABDI
Artist - Printmaker - Educator

'When it comes to art, it's important not to hide the madness'

Atticus Herodes (AD 101–177), Greek Philosopher

Welcome, and thank you for visiting my website. I am a mixed-media visual artist trained in printmaking, photography, and painting, and I’m currently expanding my practice into 3D work and sculpture. I am also an experienced facilitator and educator, running creative workshops and collaborating on community art projects with arts centres, schools, and libraries.

Please explore the site and enjoy the work I create. If you’re interested in viewing or purchasing prints, commissioning a piece, or learning more about my workshops and community work, feel free to get in touch. Thank you, and enjoy!

Freedom Trees Great Hollands!
Our beautiful paper Freedom Tree is now standing proudly in Great Hollands Library! This project has been such a joy to create — a celebration of Freedom Then and Now.

Next time you visit any Bracknell library, please stop by, pick up a leaf and write a message - What does freedom mean to you?
It could be in words or pictures — a thought, a feeling, a drawing or a tiny doodle. Share your voice and let your leaf become part of our growing forest of stories.

#FreedomTrees #FreedomThenAndNow #CommunityArt #BracknellLibraries #GreatHollandsLibrary #CreativeCommunity #PublicArt #ArtInLibraries #MakeArtTogether

Freedom Trees Finale!
What a wonderful day — a true celebration to mark the end of the Freedom Then and Now project. Our finale was filled with joy, creativity and community spirit.

We had an amazing turnout for the bookmark printmaking workshop, beautiful storytelling with music, and of course… cake!

Seeing everyone come together to create, share and reflect made the whole journey feel complete.

A huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this project possible — my incredible family @ayela_rizvi @yusra.photos and @aun.abdi and friends, the brilliant team @bracknelllibraries , especially Anne Hayward, @southhillpark for the opportunity and to @heatheruptonartist , @bracknellforest , @futureartscentres , the wonderful artists from my studio at Lockwood especially @rubbish_artistry @msmonacr @julemallett and @lockwood.studios for the creative space they provided. Your generosity and collaboration truly made a difference.
Feeling grateful, inspired and proud of what we created together. 💚

#FreedomTrees #FreedomThenAndNow #CommunityArt #BracknellLibrary #SouthHillPark #BracknellForestCouncil #FutureArtsCentres #LockwoodStudios #PrintmakingWorkshop #CreativeCommunity #PublicArt #ArtProject #ThankYouEveryone

The Freedom Trees are all dressed up in their beautiful leaves!
Our beautiful community freedom leaves are now shining proudly — each one holding a story, a memory, a question, a voice. Together they’ve created something truly magical.
Saturday is the finale with a bookmark printmaking workshop - the perfect way to celebrate the end of Freedom Then and Now.
Thank you to everyone who helped, supported, created and shared their time, energy and heart — this project is ours because of you.
11–2 at Bracknell Library — see you there!

#FreedomThenAndNow #FreedomTrees #CommunityArt #BracknellLibrary #ArtProject #PrintmakingWorkshop #CreativeCommunity #PublicArt #FinaleDay

A little reel of the Harmans Water pillar tree installation.
This piece was such a joy to create — wrapping textures around the pillar, building layer by layer, and watching the tree take on its own presence in the space. It feels alive, rooted and growing.
This installation is part of Freedom Then and Now, a project that reflects on how our understanding of freedom has changed over time — from the stories of the past to the voices and experiences of today. Each tree holds layers of history, imagination and community, reminding us that freedom is something we shape together.

Huge thank you to @ayela_rizvi @aun.abdi and my lovely assistant Susan who helped build, shape and support this tree.

#FreedomTrees #FreedomThenAndNow #HarmansWater #ArtInstallation #PillarArt #CommunityArt #Collaboration #Grateful #ArtProject #areejabdiartist #bracknelllibrary

To celebrate the end of the project…
Join me this Saturday 29th November at Bracknell Library for the Freedom Trees finale and a creative bookmark printmaking workshop.
Check the Bracknell Library website for full details — link in bio!
Can’t wait to celebrate and create together .

#FreedomThenAndNow #FreedomTrees #BracknellLibrary #PrintmakingWorkshop #CommunityArt #CreativeBracknell #ArtInLibraries #BookmarkWorkshop

Delivery day for the Freedom Trees to Bracknell Library!

Truly excited, nervous and absolutely thrilled to see this project reaching its finale.

Freedom Then and Now is a collaborative art project where the Freedom Trees symbolise shared stories of freedom — past and present — created with the community, for the community.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped — family, friends, artists, and all the wonderful hands that made this possible. Couldn’t have done it without you. 💚

Special thank you to BTC for the van hire — hugely appreciated.

Also a heartfelt thank you to Bracknell Libraries for this amazing opportunity. 🌿

Delivered the trees in one piece (thankfully!) and the sunshine was on our side — no rain, smooth journey, everything falling into place. Couldn’t have asked for more.

#FreedomTrees #ArtInstallation #CommunityArt #BracknellLibrary #BracknellForest #GratefulHeart #ArtJourney #ArtistLife #PublicArt #CreativeCommunity #SculptureArt #NatureInspired #ProjectFinale #MadeWithLove
#freedomthenandnow #trees #bracknell
#bracknellforest

The forest is complete!
Our Freedom Trees are finished and heading to their final stop at Bracknell Library.
The forest has grown, transformed, and now it’s ready for its new home…
I’ll truly miss their company.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped, supported, and took part in bringing these trees to life @rubbish_artistry @ayela_rizvi @msmonacr — your hands, ideas, and energy shaped this forest. I’m so grateful. ❤️
And a special thank you to Bracknell Library for this incredible opportunity!

#FreedomTrees #BracknellLibrary #ArtInstallation #CommunityArt #CreativeCommunity #PublicArt #InstallationArt #ForestJourney #ArtistLife #ArtsInLibraries #BracknellForest #MadeWithLove #EcoArt #SculpturalArt #FinalStop #ThankYou #Collaboration #TeamWork

Freedom Trees — nearly at the finish line!
This has been such a super fun tree to create, and watching the project come together has been incredible. Each branch, wrap and layer has carried the spirit of freedom then and now. Huge thank you to my lovely assistants — couldn’t have done it without you!

#FreedomTrees #ArtProject #AlmostFinished #CreativeProcess #TreeArt #InstallationArt #CommunityArt #ArtInProgress #MixedMediaArt #LibraryArt #BracknellLibraries #BracknellForest #ArtistLife #Thankful #TeamWork #ModrocMagic #PrintmakingProject

Freedom: Then and Now – Harmans Water Tree Complete!
The Freedom Tree at Harmans Water is now in place — and it’s already looking beautiful.

But it still needs more leaves!

If you’d like to be part of the project, please share your freedom words or a small drawing that expresses what freedom means to you. Your leaf will be added to the tree and become part of our community’s shared story.

#FreedomThenAndNow #FreedomLeaves #FreedomTree #HarmansWaterLibrary #BracknellLibraries #OurFreedomProject #CommunityArt #CreativeVoices #AddYourLeaf

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AREEJ ABDI Artist - Printmaker - Educator

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CONTACT

AREEJ ABDI
Artist - Printmaker - Educator