Khayamiya, or Egyptian Tentmaker Applique, is a spectacular art form in danger of extinction. The vibrant colours and intricate designs of contemporary Khayamiya are the result of an entrepreneurial history of adaptation and re-invention, much of which has been forgotten. In this lecture, Dr Sam Bowker will present his investigation into the history of the Egyptian Tentmakers including the discovery of the ‘Khedival Khayamiya’; the striking link between Khayamiya and Henri Matisse; and the important role played by contact with external forces including British and Australian soldiers in WWI and WWII. His lecture will contain a well-illustrated overview of how Khayamiya became what it is today, including the first presentation of several unpublished archival images.

Dr Sam Bowker is a Lecturer in Art History and Visual Culture at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. He received his PhD in Art History and Curatorship from the ANU, and previously lectured in Art Theory and Design at the ANU School of Art. He has also worked for the National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of Australia, and National Library of Australia as an education specialist. He has recently returned from a lecturing and research tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and is the curator of the groundbreaking touring exhibition ‘Khayamiya: Khedival to Contemporary - The Egyptian Tentmakers from 1890 to 2010’.