Born in Blantyre, Malawi (b. 1993)

Billie Zangewa

Body and Soul, 2021

Hand- stitched silk
© Billie Zangewa; courtesy the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, and London. Photo by Ian Reeves.

Billie Zangewa at the seven-foot table in her kitchen that she uses to make tapestries, and where her son has done his home-schooling. Photo by Jurie Potgieter for The New York Times.

“I use fabric and sewing, which traditionally is a female pastime, to empower myself. I tell my personal story, how it’s happening on the home front, and show the intimate life of a woman, which usually we’re not encouraged to do.”

—Billie Zangewa

Billie Zangewa

“I use fabric and sewing, which traditionally is a female pastime, to empower myself. I tell my personal story, how it’s happening on the home front, and show the intimate life of a woman, which usually we’re not encouraged to do.”—Billie Zangewa

“I use fabric and sewing, which traditionally is a female pastime, to empower myself. I tell my personal story, how it’s happening on the home front, and show the intimate life of a woman, which usually we’re not encouraged to do.”

—Billie Zangewa