This series is part of a multi-year project (2024 - 2034) documenting cultural workers from the Arab world. In 2024, I started the research process in preparation for a book and series of mixed media paintings. My interest in this stems from my own experiences living in diaspora while witnessing the continued current events as well as media reporting focused on wars and uprisings in Southwest Asia and North Africa. I start by selecting people in my community, who I have built a relationship with over time through art and cultural communities. My process for the portraits involves multiple preparatory meetings to understand the person’s life work, passions outside of their creative work, and their family and migration history. Then, I interview and conduct photoshoots that can serve as reference materials for the mixed media works and book. This particular series aims to both bring dignity to their lives and work and to archive their careers so that they are not erased. Each portrait brings in a unique sculptural element - whether recycled skateboards, acrylic fiber rugs, embroidery, naturally dyed fibers, acrylic caulk, or mosaics.

So far, these include Palestinian, Syrian, Lebanese, Egyptian, Yemeni, Iraqi and Sudanese artists, an Arabic calligraphy master, chefs and restaurant owners, mothers, grandmothers, teachers, etc. Most of our realities extend across multiple lands due to repeat forced migration and as a result many of the people featured are now based in Baltimore, DC, Jordan, and Germany (to name a few places).

Hussein Al Azaat

Laila El Haddad

Naji Al Ali

Mo Amer

Salua Moussawel

Ramy Youssef & Bella Hadid

Heba Ella Amara

MC CAFRITZ FOUNDATION ARTS CENTER

SILVER SPRING, MD, USA

2025

Q0DE GALLERY

AMMAN, JO

2024