By Sekka Editorial
Social media platforms such as Instagram have become modern day art galleries that many young emerging artists in the region are using to share their digital art. As technology advances, so does this form of art, pushing artists to continuously experiment and sharpen their skills.
At Sekka, we are honoured that more than 50 per cent of the artworks that you have seen in our magazine were illustrated by women from the region. We round up five young and emerging Khaleeji female digital artists that you should know:
Shahad Nazer, 23, Saudi Arabia
Shahad Nazer’s work is the kind that would make you stop and contemplate. The young Saudi’s digital collage artworks embody social messages, make feminist statements, and tackle issues that concern the youth, particularly young women. She has produced digital collages for media companies and magazines such as Sekka, Vice Arabia, and Emirates Woman, and also sells prints and mobile covers of her work. Her artwork has been exhibited in Pop Arte in Belgium, Art Dubai with Daftar Asfar, and Abu Dhabi’s Festember. She has also donated some of her artworks to the International Refugee Assistance Project.
Hala Al Abbasi, 29, Bahrain
If you love digital art with bold colors then Hala Al Abbasi is your artist. The young Bahraini often illustrates people and famous personalities using bold colours , but has also proved her talent across other mediums. She has collaborated with and worked on the packaging of popular regional restaurant and café Parker’s. Her artwork has been featured on the façade of the restaurant. She has also illustrated the covers of regional publications such as Fact Magazine and Sekka , and has collaborated with the Sharjah Book Authority to illustrate children’s books.
Alia Al Hammadi, 25, United Arab Emirates
Alia Al Hammadi is a talented young digital artist who has proved her skills across different digital art styles. The Sharjah-based artist is making a name for herself in the UAE’s art community for illustrations that make people nostalgic. Her illustrations of old Emirati couples in romantic settings have especially gained her a large fan base. The good thing is that fans can own her work as she sells printouts and stickers of them, and is currently setting up a website to ease that process.
Zainab Alradhi, 24, Saudi Arabia
Zainab Al Radhi is as young, experimental Saudi artist and author. Her digital collages and illustrations raise questions about identity, the environment, women, and culture. Her artwork has been published in Unootha Magazine, Ward Magazine, Tariff Magazine, and Qua Magazine, in addition to Sekka.
Shahed Al-Wadani, 31, Kuwait
Known as “Shalala” on social media, this young Kuwaiti artist is popular for her comic strip “Shalala Thoughts”, which features three main characters: Mimi, Shalala and her cat Tuna. The comic strips mainly depict the challenges and frustrations that women in the Arab world face, but also narrates the daily interactions of the characters with each other. Through the use of calming colors and cute looking characters, she tackles sensitive topics and issues that are generally perceived as “ugly” .
Shahed’s comic art journey began when she was just 15 years old and she has participated in various exhibitions across the across the world since. Last July, she also published a coloring book. Shahed used her artistic skills for good when she collaborated with Kuwaiti boutique Al Othman in their “The Blank Clutch Project” and illustrated on bags that raised awareness about breast cancer.
The views of the authors and writers who contribute to Sekka, and the views of the interviewees who are featured in Sekka, do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sekka, its parent company, its owners, employees and affiliates.
Sekka Editorial