Artist Talk: Yousr Shaltout

Yousr Shaltout is an Egyptian /Lebanese medical student and Tatreez artist based in New Jersey. Yousr is self taught, and first fell in love with the art as well as its political and cultural significance four years ago. In 2021, Yousr was awarded the NJ Council of the Arts Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grant. Under the apprenticeship, Yousr created her first thobe under the mastery of Wafa Ghnaim of The Tatreez Institute (Tatreez & Tea). Yousr’s next project is to design, sew, and embroider a thobe for her medical school graduation in 2024 as the culmination of her skills in the craft. It will combine the various styles of embroidery from Palestine and those from her roots in Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria to showcase that Tatreez is an art form shared across the Arab world with distinct regional and cultural styles and motifs.

Yousr is the proud owner of a small business selling tatreez patterns and tatreez inspired items. You can support her work at tatreezing.etsy.com or by following her journey at her Instagram @tatreezing.

Learn more about Yousr’s thobe project and concept, by registering to this artist talk.