Rising Stars: Meet Sayma Hossain of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sayma Hossain.

Hi Sayma, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Sayma Hossain (she/they, b. 1992, Dhaka, Bangladesh) is a textile installation artist working at the intersection of material reclamation and cultural memory. Rooted in the traditions of unorthodox quilting, tapestry weaving, and the use of found objects, her practice centers on reimagining discarded textiles through labor-intensive, often meditative processes.
Raised between Bangladesh and the American South, Hossain explores themes of mental health within the South Asian diaspora, food waste, and the complexities of hybrid identity, often through a Western lens. Her work reflects a tactile form of storytelling that merges personal narrative with broader social commentary.
She received her BFA in Textile Design from Georgia State University in 2016. Her work has been exhibited internationally and installed permanent public art across the South, with clients including Patagonia, Living Walls, Midtown Alliance, Dashboard, Orange Barrel Media, Goat Farm Arts Center, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Never is!

I think we all have setbacks. It’s up to you and your actions to shift the course.
I attended art school and have always wanted to be a visual artist, but prior to my current career and trajectory, I’ve spent eight years in the corporate world.
My biggest obstacle was taking the leap to being a freelance artist.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Here is my artist statement about my current art practice:

My work explores the boundless potential of recyclable materials, reimagining traditional textile practices through a sustainable lens. Raised between Bangladesh and Georgia, I experienced two distinct relationships to material, waste, and environment—experiences that shaped my commitment to resourcefulness and ecological responsibility. These values are foundational to my work.
Using sewing, crochet, and weaving, I transform discarded and everyday materials into intricate tapestries and immersive installations. By elevating what is often overlooked or thrown away, I invite viewers to reconsider the value of objects, labor, and their own roles in cycles of consumption and renewal. My work examines transformation, resilience, and the potential for collective change through mindful making.
Sustainability is not just a subject but a method—embedded in my sourcing, process, and philosophy. I see textile as a language of connection: between people, cultures, and the natural world. Through my work, I aim to foster dialogue around environmental issues and material equity while celebrating the traditions and innovations of textile art.

I specialize in primarily textiles, contemporary art, installation art and public art

How do you think about luck?
I believe luck (and hard work) is a big part of it!

Once I put myself out there and gave it 100% is when I started to reap the benefits of my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cargocollective.com/saymahossain
• Instagram: Saymaa.h

Image Credits

@zOa for headshot