IPI and Grace Farms Foundation cohosted the second Art for Peace series event featuring global human rights advocate and artist Nasreen Sheikh on March 26th.

For the first time publicly, Nasreen Sheikh did a reading of her poem “A Table for Peace,” which she wrote during an artist residency at Grace Farms Foundation in Connecticut. The event also featured “The Veil,” a textile-based fine art piece symbolizing protection and honoring the anonymity of survivors of modern slavery. It will be part of a performance art installation and integrated into the film ANAVARANA—Nasreen Sheikh’s documentary filmmaking debut—which explores modern slavery’s impact on women and its connection to the global climate crisis.

At the event, Nasreen demonstrated how her work amplifies the intersection of art, social transformation, and peacebuilding, as well as the lasting power of art as both a historical record and a tool for shaping global consciousness.

Nasreen Sheikh is a survivor of modern slavery and a visionary leader committed to ending this issue through survivor-led initiatives. She is the founder of the Empowerment Collective, an organization dedicated to ending modern slavery through survivor leadership, and Local Women’s Handicrafts (LWH), a social business venture in Nepal that empowers marginalized women through traditional craftsmanship. Nasreen’s dedication to a transparent global economic and supply chain system, illustrated through her development of the TransparaTrade initiative, enhances supply chain transparency and promotes corporate engagement and legislative reforms to end modern slavery. In addition to her advocacy, Nasreen is a documentary filmmaker, author, and multimedia artist. Her creative work weaves her experiences and insights into compelling narratives.

The Art for Peace Series, in partnership with Grace Farms Foundation, highlights the role of art and education in building a culture of peace and reconciliation and is chaired by IPI President Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

Opening Remarks:
Chelsea Thatcher, Founding Creative Director, Chief Strategic Officer at Grace Farms

Featured Artist:
Nasreen Sheikh, Global Advocate for Human Rights, Documentary Filmmaker, Author, and Multimedia Artist

Moderator:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO, International Peace Institute