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I am Mrs Khan, created by Zara Saghir, has been named as the winner of the 2025 Blackburn Art Open, entering Blackburn Museum’s collection.
Zara, who also works across arts programmes Super Slow Way and the British Textile Biennial, said the piece is a reinterpretation of an Islamabad poster that “promises matchmaking services under the mythical figure of Mrs Khan”.
Zara said: “In I am Mrs Khan, I reinterpret an iconic Islamabad poster that promises matchmaking services under the mythical figure of ‘Mrs Khan’.
“In a performative series of gestures where gender roles are subverted, I’m photographed in a suit and Pakistani bridal jewellery, that is associated with wedding ceremonies, showing my confidence in both of my cultures, both here and in Pakistan.
“I am both the fixer and the fixed, I take responsibility for my own future and reclaim the role of Mrs Khan from what is undoubtedly a male construct.
“This work was supported by in-situ, Pendle, and Art of Small Talk, Pakistan.”
A spokesperson for the arts programme Super Slow Way said: “A huge congratulations to our colleague Zara Saghir for winning the 2025 Blackburn Art Open and entering Blackburn Museum’s collection.
“Zara is our brilliant assistant producer who works across both Super Slow Way and British Textile Biennial but is also a great artist in her own right.”
The work, I am Mrs Khan was made during a residency in Islamabad together with In-Situ and Art of Small Talk.
Janet Howkins was highly commended at the Blackburn Art Open, for her piece entitled Sunflowers.
She said: “I was absolutely delighted to hear I was one of the highly commended artists in the show and so very unexpected.
“My piece Sunflowers is a modern-day interpretation of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
“The casting technique illustrates the beautiful detail of the flowers and is a medium I specialise in so for the piece to be recognised by the judges was wonderful.”
More than 600 people came to see the exhibition opening at Blackburn Museum, on January 18. The exhibition is available until March 15.
It includes the work of amateur and professional artists living and working in the area.
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