Islamic Geometric Patterns: Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii)

Join us for another hands-on workshop exploring the timeless beauty of Islamic geometric patterns, presented in collaboration with MathArtPlay, a project at the intersection of mathematics and art.

In this workshop, participants will learn how traditional geometric patterns are constructed using circle division with a compass and straightedge. Starting from simple geometric constructions, participants will build a repeating pattern inspired by designs found in the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in Iznik, Turkey, built during the Ottoman dynasty in 1392 CE (794 AH). Patterns like this appear in latticework screens and carved wooden doors, where repeating geometric structures create intricate designs while allowing light and air to pass through architectural spaces.

The workshop is led by Dr. Rebin Muhammad, a mathematician, educator, and artist originally from the Kurdistan region of Iraq and a co-founder of MathArtPlay, together with Alexandra Veremeychik, an Islamic geometric artist. Participants will construct the pattern step by step and see how simple geometric constructions can produce complex and beautiful designs.

• Learn how circle division creates the foundation of Islamic geometric patterns
• Construct patterns using compass and straightedge techniques
• Explore symmetry and repetition in traditional geometric designs
• Discover how mathematics and art come together in historical architecture

No prior experience in art or mathematics is required—just curiosity and a willingness to explore. Participants will leave with completed patterns and a deeper appreciation of geometry as a creative and cultural language.

Open to: students, educators, artists, and anyone curious about geometry, culture, design, and pattern.Materials: All materials provided.

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Host or Publisher Reed Society for the Sacred Arts