In a sunlit studio in Auburn, Safiyya Bello layers paint with the patience of someone who understands that beauty takes time. Her large-scale works blend traditional Islamic geometric patterns with the colours and textures of her dual heritage—Nigerian and Australian.

Born in Lagos and raised in Western Sydney from the age of nine, Safiyya describes her art as a conversation between the places that shaped her. The precise, interlocking forms of Islamic geometry provide structure, while her colour palette draws from memories of red earth, eucalyptus greens, and the ochre light of late afternoon in Parramatta.

"Geometry in Islamic art is about infinity," Safiyya explains. "The patterns can extend forever. For me, that speaks to belonging—how identity is not fixed but keeps expanding as we grow and move through the world."

Safiyya studied fine arts at Western Sydney University before completing a residency in Fez, Morocco, where she learned traditional techniques of zellij tilework. That experience transformed her practice. She returned home with a deeper understanding of how mathematics and spirituality intertwine in Islamic design.

Her recent series, Thresholds, explores the concept of home through doorway motifs. Each painting frames a geometric field within an arch shape, inviting viewers to step imaginatively into spaces that feel both familiar and transcendent. The works have been exhibited in Sydney, Melbourne, and recently at an international showcase in Dubai.

MIAA is honoured to feature three pieces from Thresholds in our permanent collection. Safiyya has also led workshops at the museum, teaching community members the foundations of geometric pattern-making.

"Art should not sit behind glass and feel untouchable," she says. "I want people to see these patterns and feel they belong to them—because they do."

We invite visitors to experience Safiyya Bello's work in our Ground Floor Gallery and to keep an eye out for upcoming workshops where you can learn directly from this remarkable artist.