Osman Yousefzada

Osman Yousefzada is a British interdisciplinary artist, writer and social activist.[2][3] He launched his eponymous label Osman in 2008, and expanded his practice into a visual art space since 2013, with a ‘zine’ called The Collective - a cross disciplinary publication of themed conversations, between writers, artists, and curators, including, Milovan Farronato,[4] Hans Ulrich Obrist,[5] Nicola Lees, Celia Hempton,[6] Anthea Hamilton, Prem Singh and others. Osman has shown internationally at various institutions, from the Whitechapel Gallery, V&A, Dhaka Art Summit, Lahore Biennale, Lahore Museum, Cincinnati Art Museum, Ringling  Museum, Florida, Almaty Museum and solo at the Ikon Gallery in 2018.

Osman Yousefzada
Yousefzada in 2016 at The Asian Awards
Born1977 (age 45–46)[1]
Birmingham, England
Years active2008 - present
Known forArt, fashion
Notable workInfinity Pattern 1 (Birmingham)
Websiteosmanstudio.com

Early life

Osman Yousefzada (Pashto: عثمان یوسفزاده) was born in 1977 in Birmingham to an artisanal family. His Pakistani father was a carpenter, while his mother of Afghan heritage was a tailor running a dress-making business.[7][2][8] He grew up in Balsall Heath, to parents who were unable to read or write in English or their mother tongue.[8] Yousefzada studied anthropology at the SOAS University of London and later did a fashion course at Central Saint Martins.[2] He also received an MPhil from Cambridge University.[9]

Career

Writing

Osman has written on various themes of Race, Labour and marginalised communities.[10]

His memoir The Go Between, about growing up in the 80’s in Birmimgham England in a closed Pakistani migrant community has received critical acclaim.[11] Stephen fry reviewed it as ‘One of the greatest childhood memoirs of our time’.[12] Hanif Kureishi said that it Was ‘Poetic and moving’[13] and The Guardian reviewed it as magic behind closed doors.[14]

Visual art
The black-pink pattern (Infinity Pattern 1) designed by Yousefzada at Selfridges Building, Birmingham

Yousefzada first solo exhibition at the critically acclaimed contemporary art space - Ikon Gallery in 2018, was called “Being Somewhere Else’. The exhibition was made to demonstrate the inequalities in the contemporary fashion world, as well as exploring marginalised voices and experiences within migration.[15]

Yousefzada created a short film named Her Dreams are Bigger about garment workers in Bangladesh which was shown at the Whitechapel Gallery in London.[16][17]

In 2020, Yousefzada created an installation putting the conversation of Migration into the heart of the city - titled Infinity Pattern 1. It is the largest public art canvas which was installed as a temporary hoarding facade at the Selfridges site in Birmingham. It is expected to remain until the 2022 Commonwealth Games. This was Yousefzada's first work of public art.[18]

Fashion

Yousefzada launched his eponymous label, Osman, in 2008.[2] He earned a reputation at London's fashion weeks that year mostly by the black dresses he designed, which prompted the U.S. Vogue magazine to call him the "re-inventor of the Little Black Dress".[19]

Within a few years of launching his label, Yousefzada had become a "fashion powerhouse".[20] Some of his famous clients include Beyoncé, Emily Blunt and Lady Gaga.[2][18] Beyoncé wore an Osman dress at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.[21]

In 2016 he won the Outstanding Achievement in Art & Design at the 6th Asian Awards.[22]

He launched his first solo exhibition at the Ikon Gallery in 2018. The exhibition was made to demonstrate the inequalities in the contemporary fashion world, as well as experiences with migration.[8]

In 2019, Yousefzada opened up a temporary space in London's Floral Street which he named House of Osman.[23]

Style

Yousefzada has claimed that his Asian heritage inspired some of his cuts and that many of his works are done in Pakistan and India.[21] Recently for a capsule collection for fall 2022, Yousefzada made designs to celebrate South Asian identity, using fabrics and inspirations from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.[3] Some of his designs have also had inspirations from Maasai tribes and Ancient Greece.[24]

References
  1. Paton, Elizabeth (19 September 2020). "On Racism and British Fashion". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  2. "Spotlight on Osman Yousefzada and what he is up to this London Fashion Week". Evening Standard. 16 September 2019.
  3. "Osman Yousefzada Celebrates South Asian Identity". Harpers Bazaar. 24 February 2022.
  4. "An Italian Curator With Unusual Flair Takes the Venice Biennale". W Magazine. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  5. "Poppy Delevingne, Wendy Goodman, and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn Celebrate Osman Yousefzada's The Collective". Vogue. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  6. "With His Fashion Line and Now His Art, Osman Yousefzada Pays Tribute to His Mom". Observer. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  7. Shahesta Shaitly (5 September 2010). "Osman Yousefzada: five things I know about style". The Guardian.
  8. "Birmingham-born artist fuses themes of migration, fashion, art and music". Arts Council England. 15 June 2018.
  9. "How British designer Osman Yousefzada is cutting through the fashion noise". Lifestyle Asia India. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  10. "Osman Yousefzada's Memoir Will Change the Way You Look at Britain Forever". AnOther. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  11. "Osman Yousefzada's Memoir Charts His Journey From a Strict Religious Upbringing to Fashion Week". Vogue. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  12. Smith, Robbie (7 February 2022). "Londoner's Diary: Fashion's more diverse — but I still have to change to fit in". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  13. Conti, Samantha (31 March 2022). "Osman Yousefzada Reveals Family's Past, Cultural Conflicts in Memoir". WWD. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  14. "The Go-Between by Osman Yousefzada review – magic behind closed doors". The Guardian. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  15. "Her Dreams Are Bigger". Whitechapel Gallery. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  16. "OSMAN YOUSEFZADA's film 'Her Dreams are Bigger'". 13 June 2020.
  17. Ellie Pithers (15 June 2020). "Osman Yousefzada Meets Bangladeshi Garment Workers In An Illuminating Film". British Vogue.
  18. "Selfridges unveils Osman Yousefzada art installation wrapped around store". The National News. 26 July 2021.
  19. "Osman Yousefzada is reinventing the little black dress". The Independent. 8 June 2008.
  20. "Osman's women". The Times. 10 March 2012.
  21. "LSA & You: How British designer Osman Yousefzada is cutting through the fashion noise". Lifestyle Asia. 30 November 2020.
  22. "Highlights of the 6th Asian Awards 2016 - DESIblitz". 9 April 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  23. "Osman Makes Himself at Home in Covent Garden". WWD. 15 September 2019.
  24. "Fab Flash: MNG by Osman Yousefzada Launches at Selfridges". Popsugar Fashion UK. 11 March 2008.
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