When was the last time you saw CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour do an in depth one on one interview with a Muslim personality from the West? In his university days British born artist Mohammed Ali, now better known as Aerosol Arabic was immersed in hiphop culture, living the fast life,  and would indulge in street graffiti, but the abrupt loss of a close friend would lead him to deep introspection on where he was heading in life. Mohammed fuses Aerosol Graffiti techniques with Islamic Calligraphy and Iconography using his creative energies in a manner which would not only benefit the Muslim community but launch this uniquely concocted form of Islamic artwork into the mainstream. He has received worldwide recognition from media heavyweights such as CNN, BBC, CBC, Al-Jazeera and others.
His journey has led him to Denmark, Dubai, Sweden and this April for the first time he will tour the U.S. alongside the UK Arts Council
. The Arts and Islam tour will include Mohammed's staple Graffiti Wall Murals accompanied by  presentations at Museums and Universities. He will be doing a series of murals including a special one in New York City commemorating the tragic loss of 9 Muslim children in a Bronx fire.

Mohammed is not the only contemporary Muslim artist celebrating his Muslim identity and fusing it with contemporary art. Asma Shikoh, a Pakistani American who holds a Bachelors in Fine Arts from the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi recently held a highly successful solo exhibition entitled "Liberated". Her pieces contained an interesting mix  of themes. Her Identity as a practicing Muslim woman residing in New York resonates throughout her artwork. She produced what she calls the Beehive, A series of connected cardboard cells forming the shape of a honey comb with each cell containing 100 different Hijabs contributed by women from all over the world. Each cell having a description provided by its original Muhajaba etched into it explaining its significance to them. Other pieces include a New York City Subway map completely translated into urdu, A blend of NY City Metrocards cut up in various classical Islamic art shape formats to create a kaleidoscope, 3D/2D mixed city landscapes, and portraits of Muslima Superheroes. “As an artist, my concerns have always been my immediate environment, especially the cities I’ve lived in. ‘Liberated’ juxtaposes my fascination with New York City life and my experience with the self empowering identity of American Muslim women,” says Asma. 

What makes the work of these artists so provocative is that its clearly western and at
the same time unambiguously Islamic. They employ the usage of Islamic
themes and messages yet their work carries a universal appeal which people from
all walks of life are drawn to. This approach helps to make Islamic Art
mainstream, and on a broader level helps to establish Muslims as a
permanent thread in the Western fabric. While the acceptability of Muslim women covering is being debated by
others and while many are worried about homegrown terrorism reoccurring in the West, one woman with a brush in her clutch and one man with a spray can in
his hand serve as a models of homegrown art, culture, and hope for the
fusion of Islamic Identity and Western citizenry.

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