JOANNA BARAKAT IS AN ARTIST, FOUNDER OF THE TATREEZ CIRCLE, AND NOW AUTHOR (@joanna.barakat.art; @thetatreezcircle). Joanna shares how tatreez became central to her identity—even though neither of her Palestinian grandmothers wore embroidered dresses. Her connection grew not from proximity, but from a deep sense of belonging and curiosity about the meaning behind the stitches.
Frustrated by the lack of resources on Palestinian embroidery in contemporary art, Joanna wrote Narrative Threads to document the artists who have used tatreez as a visual language of resistance, memory, and liberation. From village dress motifs to the revolutionary art of the 1960s, and now to global stitchers on Instagram, she traces how tatreez continues to evolve as a powerful tool for storytelling—especially in the face of erasure.
Joanna reminds us that cultural preservation is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Her book is a tribute to the artists who continue to create in displacement and under siege.
Order your copy of Narrative Threads and help amplify the brilliance of Palestinian art and identity.
You’ll hear about:
>> 1:01: Joanna’s connection to Palestine
>> 4:53: Introduction to art and incorporating tatreez into her art
>> 9:02: Heart Strings and what it led to
>> 15:39: Beginning @thetatreezcircle
>> 25:39: The significance of contemporary artists using tatreez
>> 34:54: Narrative Threads by Joanna Barakat
>> 47:34: Life lessons from tatreez
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Links Mentioned
>> Joanna’s Website
>> Order your copy of Narrative Threads here
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