MIPSTERZ

MIPSTERZ is an arts and culture collective curating, enabling, and amplifying creators of marginalized backgrounds through sound, film, and visual art.

During their summer 2024 residency, they are producing an immersive exhibition, film screening, and showcase as part of their ongoing project Muslim Futurism.

ABBAS RATTANI: Founder, Filmmaker, Producer
Abbas Rattani is an academic, entertainer, and founder of MIPSTERZ. He is a strong advocate for individuality and self-expression in minority communities. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Religious Studies with a focus on Islamic Studies. He has published, presented, and taught numerous works on Islamic ethics, social justice, morality, research ethics, film/tv communication, and religious authority. He has opened for Lewis Black and Wyatt Cenac of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Kenan Thompson of Saturday Night Live. He has produced countless films and created content for MTV, Tumblr, and musical artists. He can be found roaming the streets of Boston, MA in an oversized airport jacket or by email.

SHIMUL CHOWDHURY: Artist, Maker, Educator
Shimul Chowdhury is a new media artist and Assistant Professor of Immersive Media at Chatham University. She studied Art + Technology at the University of Florida and holds an MFA in Digital Arts and New Media from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In her practice, Shimul is most interested in creating participatory works or experiences that initiate and invite dialogue with the audience. She centers her own lived experiences as a Muslim US American in her work, aiming to create and build community and solidarity with participants and viewers. Shimul can be found knitting and stitching in Pittsburgh, PA or via email.

YUSUF SIDDIQUEE: Producer, Co-founder, Musician
Yusuf Siddiquee is a musician and a leader in arts organizing. He has produced and curated dozens of community art showcases, including commissioned performances for The Shed and Kennedy Center. His original music has been featured in award-winning short films produced for MTV and presented at CAAMFest, UrbanWorld, and Tribeca Film Festival. Before joining Mipsterz in 2013, he developed a strong reputation for community organizing with the open mic series “Subcontinental Drift NYC.” He has worked for arts and culture hubs such as the Silent Barn, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and StoryCorps. He studied economics and nonprofit management at UChicago and NYU and is an alumnus of the NYFA Emerging Leaders Program. He can be found drumming on any surface in Brooklyn, NY or by email.