Across ancient Mesopotamia, lamassu figures assumed the form of a winged goddess. In the ancient Assyrian Empire, giant bulls or lions with human heads and wings represented the deities, which artisans often carved at a monumental scale to protect cities and palaces. For Albuquerque-based Esther Elia, who is of Assyrian and Irish descent, lamassu are anything but a relic of the distant past. Through sculpture, paintings, and textiles, the artist explores contemporary Assyrian experience through pattern, fashion, and autobiography.

Her solo exhibition, Bazaar Ashuraya at Hecho a Mano, centers around a new collection of acrylic paintings, plus tile mosaics and functional objects. Elia delves into the theme of home, where lamps, garments, and paintings evocative of rugs or tapestries portray vibrant figures, shapes, and objects associated with daily life. Compositions such as “Sharrat Wearing Adidas” and “Esther and Zahra Wearing Farm Rio” playfully nod to contemporary fashion and folk designs.