Welcome To The Collection!
The Gibraltar Art Collection is a collaborative project between Calligraphist Josue Vega and Poet Tariq Toure. The pieces that live here represent an intentional blend of Islamic Faith, Hispanic, Andalusian, and Black Culture. Our mission is to continue to add to the richness of the Afro-Latino-Caribbean expressions of art in the West and beyond.
Meet the Duo
Josue Vega, Calligrapher
Raised in the United States with Puerto Rican heritage, Josue embraced Islam in his teenage years. This newfound faith sparked his interest in calligraphy and the vast world of Islamic art, opening doors to diverse artistic expression.
He found himself captivated by the visual power of Arabic calligraphy. Its bold, flowing lines intertwined with intricate symmetry, all set against a backdrop of vibrant colors and patterns, held a mesmerizing beauty. Beyond the aesthetics, however, Josue discovered a deeper significance. The spiritual messages woven into this art form resonated with him, influencing his daily life.
Now residing in northern Texas with his wife and four children, Josue continues to hone his craft and share his passion for Islamic art. Whether displayed in a home as a source of spiritual reflection or serving as a charitable contribution through its creation, his work aspires to illuminate a corner of the world, one piece at a time.
Tariq Toure, Poet
Tariq Touré is an award-winning Poet and Community Servant from West Baltimore Maryland. Touré holds a Master’s Degree from Howard University’s Community Development, Administration, and Policy program in Social Work. He is currently a 4th-year student at Dar Al-Rahma Detroit, a training institute for sacred knowledge for community servants.
Touré’s poetry and prose has been featured in award-winning publications such as Salon, WashingtonPost, Al Jazeera, The Nation Magazine, and Sapelo Square.
Touré is a winner of Best Poetry Book of Baltimore in by City Paper Magazine and has been a featured lecturer/performer at, Princeton University, NYU, and Georgetown University, among many others.
Toure's writing was contributed to Gordon Parks' Fellow and Times Magazine featured Photojournalist Devin Allen's book and exhibit, A Beautiful Ghetto which was nominated for an NAACP Image award.
In 2022 HBO characterized him in their newest series “We Own This City.” He is a short film award winner from the Center for Global Muslim Life for his film Dear Beloved Son. Touré is a recent arts fellow of Duke University’s program, “Building Bridges: Muslims in America.”