At the recent Bayou City Art Festival in Memorial Park, I stumbled upon Najia Omer’s airy, colorful booth. Her paintings, drawing crowds with their allure, only hint at the depth of her story. The softly blended backgrounds for her paintings set the stage for origami birds in flight, symbolize women, while gold-thread stitching weaves in her Pakistani heritage.
Since joining First Saturday Arts Market in early 2024, Omer has captivated Houston’s art scene. I caught up with her after the festival to explore the inspiration behind her amazing work.
Rise Together by Najia Omer (submitted photo)
What inspired you to begin incorporating gold-thread stitching into your mixed media paintings, reflecting your journey from Pakistan to the U.S. since 2006?
The gold-thread stitching began as a quiet nod to where I come from — both literally and emotionally. In Pakistan, gold thread is often used in traditional embroidery, something I grew up surrounded by. Stitching was something my grandmother taught me, and what the girls learned in school instead of going to PE like the boys. When I moved to the U.S., I felt a sense of disconnection — of being stitched between two worlds. Over time, the gold thread found its way into my paintings as a way to bridge those spaces: to mend, to connect, and to honor the beauty in both cultures. It’s become a symbolic thread that holds fragments of my identity together.
For those unfamiliar with your work, how did your upbringing in Pakistan lead you to craft the striking origami bird motif featuring women in your art?
Growing up in Pakistan, I saw how women often carried incredible strength quietly, folding themselves into roles and expectations. The origami bird became my way of expressing that transformation — the idea that even when life folds you, you can still become something delicate, resilient, and free. The bird represents both fragility and strength, hope and reinvention — much like the women who’ve inspired me all my life.
As We Bloom, mixed media on canvas by Najia Omer (submitted photo)
How has joining Houston’s First Saturday Arts Market shaped your journey as an artist so far?
First Saturday Arts Market has been pivotal in my journey as an artist because it opened a door for me. It gave me a place to share my art with an audience in the way I envisioned — directly, personally, and meaningfully. Beyond that, I found an incredibly supportive artist community through the market. It has been an essential stepping stone in my growth, both artistically and personally.
Your paintings blend cultural heritage with personal dreams — could you illuminate for our readers how you strike that balance and what fuels this unique approach?
I don’t think of it as balancing two separate things — my heritage and my dreams are woven together. The textures, symbols, and materials in my work come from a deep cultural memory, but the emotions and stories are entirely my own. What fuels it is the constant evolution of identity — how we grow, adapt, and carry pieces of where we’ve been. My art mirrors that process; it’s always changing, just like life.
A Beautiful Place to Breathe, mixed media on canvas by Najia Omer
Pieces of Joy, mixed media on glass by Najia Omer (submitted photo)
Looking ahead, how do you envision your art evolving, particularly as you engage with the vibrant, diverse art scene in Houston?
Houston has this incredible energy — it’s diverse, open, and full of stories. Being part of that community has encouraged me to experiment more freely and to collaborate across mediums. I see my art continuing to evolve toward deeper storytelling — more layers, more tactile elements, and perhaps even installations that bring the viewer into the experience. I want my work to keep growing, just as I do — reflecting the ever-changing nature of identity, culture, and connection.
Najia Omer is attending the First Saturday Arts Market, Saturday, November 1, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at 540 W. 19th Street, Houston, TX. 77008. Visit www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com for more details and be sure to follow Omer on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/najiaomer and visit her website: https://najiaomer.com.
Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market. Visit his website at ArtValet.com.