Soraya Syed: The Living Script

Celebrate the publication of Soraya Syed: The Living Script, which draws together leading voices from the field of Islamic art, art history and calligraphy as they respond to the superlative work of Soraya Syed, considered a British pioneer of Arabic contemporary calligraphy.

The evening offers a unique opportunity to hear from Soraya in person as she reflects on a personal journey in multimedia practice, the historical significance of Arabic calligraphy and the state of the craft today. Includes opportunities for book purchasing and signing, and a paid bar.
 

Book tickets

Useful Information

• Doors open at 6:30pm for the chance to explore the historic house and Soraya Syed's From Water, Every Living Thing installation, as part of The Arab Hall: Past and Present exhibition.
• The talk will take place in Leighton's studio from 7-8pm, followed by book signing.
• Doors close at 9pm.
• A paid bar will be open throughout the evening.

Meet Soraya Syed

Born and raised in London, Soraya Syed is an artist and calligrapher whose practice is rooted in the living tradition of Arabic calligraphy, extended into film, animation, sculpture, performance and immersive installation. Classically trained in the Ottoman tradition under the masters Hasan Çelebi and Efdaluddin Kılıç in Istanbul, she was the first Briton to receive an ijazah, the formal authorisation placing her within an unbroken lineage of calligraphic transmission.

In 2026, alongside From Water, Every Living Thing at Leighton House, Syed presents a major international programme of work: participation in Homo Faber in Venice, and, later in the year, a solo exhibition, Eternally Present, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Her forthcoming monograph, The Living Script (Skira, 2026), brings together leading scholars and curators whose essays respond to her practice through the wider lens of craft, tradition and contemporary art.

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