Fatema Haque

she/her/hers

I’m a Bangladeshi-American writer, educator, and fiber artist.

As a writer, I am curious about the Bangladeshi-American diaspora, specifically the voices of immigrant women and the families left behind. These themes are the focus of my current work: a collection of short stories tentatively titled What Will People Say?

As an educator, I am committed to facilitating learning that cultivates a democratic, engaged citizenry capable of critical thinking, teamwork, and critical reflection. I’ve done this work at the Asian University for Women in Chittagong, Bangladesh, and currently hold an appointment with the Barger Leadership Institute at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I am also a co-facilitator for the Unerased Book Club, where we read and build community around Asian American literature.

As a fiber artist, I create hand-embroidered portraits that celebrate the legacies of the Bangladeshi diaspora: those who immigrate, those they leave behind, and the memories they carry with them wherever they go. Each portrait requires 30-100 hours of work, is done entirely by hand, typically on fabric I thrift and naturally dye with plants and food scraps. I am inspired by the resourcefulness and artistic legacies of my aunts and grandmothers, who created hand-embroidered goods that were never formally recognized as art. Through my art, I aim to document the memories of my people.