Spotlight on Talent – Taiba Akhtar

Studied: Level 3 Art & Design
Progression:  Artist and printmaker

She’s achieved success as an artist, printmaker, facilitator and technician and even now Taiba Akhtar is eager to continue learning her craft and further developing her skills. This is all with the aim of bringing art and arts-based activities to bigger and diverse audiences.

Akhtar’s ambition is shaped by her daily interactions and encounters with colleagues, students and visitors.

“When I think of the joy, I get from seeing others get excited by art, become inspired by or share ideas, those are experiences to cherish collectively and collaboratively,” she said.

“I especially love seeing young artists express themselves. I wasn’t able to do this when I was growing up and I think it can be an important part of someone’s personal development.”

Her recent roles have included working as a Studio Assistant at the Birmingham School of Art, Information Assistant at Ikon and Workshop Assistant for Fae Kilburn.  Akhtar has also been temporarily covering the Senior Print Technician, partaking one to one bookings, workshops and the maintenance of the print room.

“I see myself as a work in progress,” Akhtar continued.

“There’s scope for me to share arts practice, creative skills and technicalities entwining my love for printmaking.

“It’s an honour to work with incredible cohorts and significant for organisations to employ a diverse range of individuals, hopefully stepping up for future generations too.”

Akhtar’s Start the Press! Residency was a phenomenal opportunity allowing recognition, appreciation and familiarisation into the processes and steps one undertakes: live making, communicating and sharing.  She hopes when one now looks at a print they’ll start deconstructing its process, gaining an understanding and visualising its creation: time, effort and skill.

As she finds daily, one must be willing to make, make mistakes but most importantly learn, on the rectification and development. As an artist facilitator whether a visitor’s gallery experience or a student’s workshop experience, ‘you want them to revisit and that’s the beauty of creativity’.

Akhtar describes her time at Walsall College as the official start of her creative journey and training. This was because her Level 3 Art and Design Extended Diploma helped her explore 3D art, fine art, graphics and photography, resulting in her deciding to specialise in printmaking.

“The college’s arts resources and facilities were of a different standard to anything I’d come across before,” she explained.

“I also rated the advice I got from my tutors, not just in terms of the best places to study fine art at degree level but also in terms of being encouraged to keep pushing myself so I could reach my potential.”

“Although I wanted to specialise in printmaking, I was reminded not to completely shut myself off from other disciplines, including those I wasn’t particularly good at nor interested in.

“I understand now that you never know when you might find yourself having to make use of a different specialism or be working and collaborating with someone from a different field to yours.”

Akhtar also has other advice for student artists and those starting out in industry.

“Don’t be afraid to venture out of your specialism, in terms of the different roles available within the arts and how it will get you thinking creatively. Always stick to your guts, reflect and develop from your making, thinking and facilitating.”

“ It’s important you go out of your comfort zone and see what’s out there.  You never know what insights you might gain, and how it interweaves through your practice.”