Writer, Artist, Writing Coach, Workshop Leader, and Community Activist

Sehba Sarwar is a thought-provoking author and speaker, an inspirational artist, and a dynamic community and cultural activist, who is dedicated to creating connections between communities around the globe. Through her writings, talks, and workshops, Sehba encourages awareness and action among people of all ages and backgrounds. Please contact her so she can visit your campus or community to offer a workshop, reading, or leadership training! 

BLOG

I use this channel to document my movement between spaces including Houston, Karachi, Delhi, Dhaka, Los Angeles and elsewhere, recording observations, images and conversations. It’s my space to share the multiple realities I inhabit as writer, artist, mother, activist and transnational. I hope you will enjoy the journey along with me.

UPDATES

Ongoing

Release of second edition of novel Black Wings (Veliz Books, 2019) and 2019-20 book tour in cities including Houston, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Sacramento, San Francisco, Vancouver, and more; click below to view cities and dates

Sep 2022

"Addressing Youth Violence: Foster Communities that Break Isolation." Essay in L.A. Parent that addresses gun violence on campuses.

February 2022

Essay: "My Chicana-South Asian daughter, finding her roots in Karachi and south Texas," Los Angeles Times.

October 2021

ArtNight Pasadena
"On Belonging, a site-specific art installation
community responses to home & the pandemic"
@ three Pasadena parks:
Memorial (85 E. Holly St)
McDonald (1000 Mountain St)
Victory Park (2575 Paloma St)

January 2021

Curated and read at South Asian Writers Resist for Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA

September 2020

Participated in a virtual reading, Pasajes / Passages along with other writers for Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA

October 2020

Participated in a virtual poetry marathon, ¡Ya Basta! Futures Without Walls / Enough! Futuros Sin Muros, for Poets Against Walls, Rio-Grande Valley, TX

June 2020

Participated in a virtual reading, YOU DOWN FOR THE CAUSE OR WHAT? Writers of color discuss allyship, with fellow writers for BookSwell and Los Angeles Public Library-Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA

PUBLICATIONS

Over the past three decades, I have generated essays, poems and short-stories that have appeared in anthologies, newspapers and online publications. Much of my work explores cross-border experiences, moving between Pakistan, the US, and the spaces in between, tackling women’s issues, displacement and migration.

Sehba Sarwar Courses and Workshops
Sehba Sarwar with students at Baker-Ripley Community Center (Houston); photo: Michelle Garcia

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

Since the 1990’s, I have given talks and readings and have served as visiting writer and adjunct faculty member at colleges and universities around the United States and Pakistan. I am available to design new courses to meet community and institutional needs. Review some of my upcoming and past workshops.

PROJECTS

Alongside my writing and teaching, I have generated a large body of solo and collaborative art installations that tackle many issues including women’s reproductive rights and border/migration disputes. Browse through some of my work.

CONTACT

I am an author and speaker, an artist, and a community and cultural activist.

If I can use my talents and passions to inspire you or your network to push boundaries and become involved in our communities, please connect with me. I offer a range of services including: readings, workshops, courses, or multidisciplinary performances/installations. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sehba Sarwar Art Car
Front hood of Digital Meets Pakistani Truck Art, the art car that I co-designed with artist Eric Hester, featuring buraq sticker images from Karachi; photo by Burnell McCray