By Nadeem Mirza
At the heart of the newly formed Midlands International Artists Collective (MIAC) is a celebration of diversity, identity, memory, and emotional landscapes.
Opened on 21st May at Solihull’s Courtyard Gallery, Belongings brings together 20 diverse artists exploring heritage, home, and the many ways we carry our histories with us. For Faiqa Uppal, who divides her time between the UK and Pakistan, belonging is not confined to a single place but flows through her art, rooted in culture and spirit.
“I think belonging is a reflection of root, culture and spiritual connection,” she says. “My paint and brushes are my belongings, and I make a spiritual connection with my subjects through these.”
Her exhibited work, “Music Melody”, pays homage to the intricate visual tradition of Mughal miniatures. With vivid, joyful brushwork, Faiqa captures a tender moment between sisters—a motif drawn from memories of her own family in Pakistan. It is a celebration of sisterhood, memory, and music, translated into colour and form. In this way, the painting becomes more than an artwork; it is a living archive of longing, joy, and connection across borders.
Faiqa’s piece joins a vibrant and varied body of work that includes painting, photography, textiles and ceramics—all reflecting stories of migration, layered identities, and what it means to belong in a multicultural world. From the floral-infused domestic spaces of Fiona Carr to the textile narratives of Daya Bhatti, Belongings resists a single definition of home, opting instead to weave together complex, overlapping stories.
Curated by Birmingham-based art historian Ruth Millington, the exhibition marks the culmination of the Get Gallery Ready bootcamp, a pioneering programme at Solihull College & University Centre. The project was designed to support local artists in finding their voice—and a gallery platform—in a supportive, collaborative environment.
That spirit of connection is palpable. As one of the founding artists of MIAC, Faiqa has found not just a place to exhibit, but a community. Her work stands as a bridge between continents, a lyrical expression of what it means to carry one’s heritage in one hand and a paintbrush in the other.
Alongside Faiqa Uppal, the exhibition features works by:
Alice Alena Adamkova, Prashant Kansara, Daya Bhatti, Sarmite Lasmane, Hasret Brown, Irina Mackie, Leticia Campos, Anisa Mosaiebiniya, Fiona Carr, Sandra Palmer, Sylwia Ciszewska-Peciak, Brian Prangle, EDITORIAT, Sophie Slade, Robbie Jeffcott, Natasha Taheem, Joanna Grochot, Tara Harris and Suminder Virk.
‘Belongings’ runs from 21 May 2025 at The Courtyard Gallery, Solihull.
For more about the artists and MIAC, visit Solihull College’s website.
Related Topics:#Art #culture# Featured# Nadeem Mirza #Pakistan #Politics #Uppal’s Story #FAIQAZ #Faiqa’s Story