Azmeena Azim

I am a self-taught artist born, raised, and based in Bromley, Kent with a British, Indian, and Bangladeshi heritage.

In 2022, I was diagnosed with psychosis, OCD, anxiety, and depression – all together at the same time. My mental health was in a very bad state, and I did not know what to do. But my very supportive family were my glimmer of hope and they helped refer me to Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust who then referred me to Centrepieces.

During recovery, I discovered my love for art, and this continues to help me tremendously. This creative instrument allows me to express herself, use my imagination and it transport me to another world. Art heals.

My inspiration comes from everyday experiences, music, nature – everything. In terms of my process, I just sit with an empty canvas and let my mind, heart and hands do whatever they want in that moment in time. It is a very cathartic, therapeutic and a very enjoyable process full of colour, texture, rhythm, detail, and experimentation. A process which is shared with the viewer.

I celebrate diversity in subject matter, mediums, styles, techniques, colour and more. I hope to help people from all backgrounds through my art by reaching beyond borders, breaking barriers, and tackling social issues through my work.  I present artwork for everyone to enjoy with each piece having its own story for someone, somewhere.

I have had the privilege of having my artwork and motivational bracelets exhibited at the Stables Gallery and Drill Hall in 2023. These were my first exhibitions and I really appreciate the trust Centrepieces staff had in me as an emerging artist. I was also a winner of the Jackie Grieve Inspire Award 2023 for producing innovative and imaginative work in my first steps as a developing artist.

Centrepieces is a vital asset for the community and has changed many people’s lives. At Centrepieces, I have a brilliant time learning about art and meeting creative people from diverse backgrounds who share similar interests. There are a lot of opportunities at Centrepieces such as participating in exhibitions, having opportunities to sell work, give speeches and attending workshops (which allows me to experiment with different techniques). Centrepieces continues to be a driving force for challenging the stigma around mental health issues – which I am very thankful for. Centrepieces has given me something fun to work towards and has made me more optimistic about the future. I pay it forward by trying to make the world a better place through art.

I believe that everyone is an artist – some individuals just do not know it yet – you just have to unlock it by picking up a pencil and seeing where it takes you.