The first ever Ilm Arts Festival is directed by award winning UK artist, curator, and creative producer Mohammed Ali. Ali has been a pioneer in the street-art movement, fusing street art with Islamic script and patterns, delivering powerful and moving messages. Art meets faith, identity and social change in Ali’s work, adorning the canvas of walls and public spaces and continues to change the visual landscapes of the cities we live in. His art has inspired and informed a new generation across the globe, to boldly express their identity and ideals.

Ali’s ethos of “taking art to the people” has evolved to combine street art with live performances, installations, digital projections, and moving soundscapes. He has created truly immersive experiences for audiences throughout the world. From street canvases in New York, Amsterdam, London, and Melbourne, to intimate performances in the Vatican, Ali has used his art and collaborations with critically acclaimed musicians and poets to produce unique experiences.

His work serves as a bridge, bringing together communities divided by culture, faith, and ethnicity. Ali’s complex exploration of challenging social issues through Art, provides transformative and radical tools to counteract the challenges facing society.