• 2020 –  PhD Candidate at Deakin University
• 2008 to 2010 – Master of Visual Arts, Monash University, Melbourne  
• 1994 to 1998 – Bachelor of Fine Art, Lebanese University, Beirut
• 1992 to 1994 – Certificate Course in Painting and Sculpture, Fine Arts Centre of Lattakia
• 1988 to 1992 – Bachelor of Trade and Economics, Tishreen University, Lattakia

• 2018 – 2019 | Barwon Estuary Project
• 2022 – present | Geelong Field Naturalists Club
• 2015 – present | Mangroves from the Water Group   
• 2019 – present | The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
• 2020 – present | Ausglass artist group
• 2017 –  present | Humans in Geelong 
• 2000 – present | Emirates Fine Arts Society (UAE)
• 2020 – present | Corangamite CMA Community Engagement Network
• 2020 – present | Climate Change Communication Narratives and Network (CCCNN)
• 2018 – present | Community Radio 94.7 FM the Pulse

Mangroves from the Water Festival Organizer 2017, Khor Umm Al Quwain, UAE, 8-11 March 2017

In partnership with the Umm Al Quwain Government in association with the Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology, Wasit Wetland Reserves and UAE ministries and schools. Achieved a partnership with the UAQ Government to host fine art, music, heritage and scientific exhibitions, workshops, tours and art competitions along with sporting events (walking and traditional rowing) in location in the mangroves over four days to raise awareness of the beauty and ecological importance of the mangroves regions of the UAE in order to protect them. Lead the Mangroves from the Water Festival 2017 team.

Mangroves from the Water Exhibition, the Gordon Gallery, Geelong, Australia, 11 – 18 August, 2021

• Exhibition Catalogue; 
• Video of the Mangroves from the Water exhibition opening

Mangroves from the Water Exhibition during the Mangroves Festival 2017, Umm Al Quwain, 18-21 March 2017

Mangroves from the Water UAE series
New York University of Abu Dhabi, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Emirates Arts Society, Umm Al Quwain National Museum, thejamjar Dubai, October 2015 to March 2016.

• Multi-media: painting, film, installations, sculpture, short stories.
• Sought & negotiated sponsorship for the entire series from the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi.
• Prepared & coordinated all arrangements for 10 artists.
• Liaised & negotiated with artists, galleries & sponsors regarding budgeting, installation, accommodation, tours, timings & placement.
• Coordinated marketing including interviews with artists for MBC Arabia TV & national newspapers.
• Produced the exhibition booklet.
• Managed all sales at front of house.
• Organised inhouse sketching.
  Organised & lead sketching from kayak workshops and boat tours in the Umm Al Quwain mangroves.
• Participated as an artist.

• ( 1 Nov 2024 – 1 March 2025 )

Australian Muslim Artists 2024 Art Prize and Exhibition, Islamic Museum of Australia

• 2024

Mangroves from the Water, The Project Space Gallery, Deakin Waterfront Campus (11 – 20 Sep 2024)

Mangroves from the Water: 360-degree Film, Nyaal Cinema, Deakin Waurn Ponds Campus (19 – 20 Sep 2024)

Ramsar Wetlands – Bellarine, Group Exhibition, Artisans Gallery, Portarlington (11 Sep – 7 Oct 2024)

EcoDigital Futures, Melbourne Design Week 2024, Deakin Burwood Library Gallery, Melbourne (23 May – 2 June 2024)

• 2023

The Hive Ocean Grove, Bellarine Art Rail – Group Exhibition (November)

• 2022

The National Mall, Washington, DC. Smithsonian Folklife Festival – the UAE Pavilion, 22 June – 4 July 2022

Herring Island, Melbourne, A4 Art Australia National Exhibition, 5 March –18 April

The Hive Ocean Grove, Summer Group Exhibition-Introducing Zahidah Zeytoun Millie, 7 – 30 January

• 2021

Mangroves from the Water Exhibition, the Gordon Gallery, Geelong, Australia, 11 – 18 August

Islamic Museum of Australia, Missing Voices: Untold Stories of Australian Muslims,15 April -16 July

• 2020

Islamic Museum of Australia/ Islamic Museum Art Prize Exhibition, 18 August 2020 – 20 February, 2021

• 2018

Humans in Geelong Expo, Deakin Waterfront, Mangroves from the Water exhibition including a speech about the mangroves, 7 October

• 2017

Bellarine Art Trail, the Uniting Church, Queenscliff, Victoria 4-5th November

Mangroves from the Water Exhibition, Mangroves Festival 2017, Umm Al Quwain, March

• 2016

Connection, Steps Gallery, Lygon St. Melbourne, August/September

Mangroves from the Water, The Jam Jar Gallery, Dubai, 14-23 March

As an environmentalist I curated the ‘Mangroves from the Water’ exhibition project, October 2015 to March 2016. A touring multimedia exhibition project – watercolour sketches, film, photography, sculpture, installation art, folklore stories. The exhibition moved from Abu Dhabi, to Sharjah, to Umm Al Quwain, and finally Dubai.  As part of the project Zahidah hosted sketching workshops on a kayak and boat tours in the mangroves of Umm Al Quwain.

• 2015

Mangroves from the Water, Umm Al Quwain Museum, Umm Al Quwain, 11-19 December

Mangroves from the Water, Emirates Fine Arts Society, Sharjah, 12-30 November

Mangroves from the Water, Environment Agency Headquarters, Al Mamoura Building, Abu Dhabi, 1-6 November

Mangroves from the Water, New York University – Project Space Gallery, Abu Dhabi, 22-28 October

• 2014

Expanding Horizons, Salwa Zeidan Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE, June-September

Alliance Francaise, ’Connection’, Dubai, UAE, November

Tashkeel in ‘Sikka Art Fair 2014’, Tashkeel House, Dubai, UAE, March

RAK Art Festival, National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, February

• 2013

Tashkeel in ‘Sikka Art Fair 2013’, Tashkeel House, Dubai, UAE, March

‘Women in Art IX’, Courtyard Gallery, Dubai, UAE, November

‘Salon des Refuses’. Happenstance Gallery, London, England, June

‘Ras Al Khaimah from the Mangroves’, National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, March

‘Women in Art VIII’, Courtyard Gallery, Dubai, UAE, February

• 2012

‘Zahidah‘ curated by Rodney Forbes, Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Melbourne, Australia, 11 July – 4 August

• 2010

‘Between Bodies’ opened by the international artist Stelarc, Monash Prato, Italy, July

‘Tracking the Emirates, Contemporary Art Exhibition’Swiss Art Gate UAE, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, April

• 2008

‘From Al Safa to Starchitecture’(Solo), Higher Colleges of Technology, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

• 2006

Majlis Gallery, Dubai, UAE, December

‘Impressions’(Solo), Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, November

• 2004

‘Impressions’(Solo), Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, February

• 2002

Majlis Gallery, Dubai, UAE, December

‘Creativity’, Sharjah Art Precinct, Handicapped Guardians Association, Sharjah, UAE, April

Majlis Gallery, Dubai, UAE, March

‘The 21st Exhibition for Artists’, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, UAE, January

• 2001

Hilton Fujairah, April

‘Expressions of Faces’, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, UAE, April

‘The 20th Exhibition for Artists’, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, UAE, March

• 2000

‘Fujairah in Art’ (Solo), Hilton Fujairah, Fujairah, UAE, December

• 1999

Forum de Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, May

Beit Al-Fen, Tripoli, Lebanon, February

• 1998

UNESCO Centre, Beirut, Lebanon, April

• 1994

Syrian Cultural Centre, Damascus, Syria, AugustFe

• Zeytoun Millie, Zahidah Mangroves from the Water, Humans in Geelong, 18April 2018   
•  

• Zeytoun Millie, Zahidah, Mangroves from the Water, Nature Volve Magazine (56 -57), 11 July 2018

  Vancouver Aquarium Guardian of the Mangroves, Ocean Wise, 26 July 2018

• Pakinam Amer Mangrove warriors, Nature Middle East (radio interview), December 2017
• Queenscliffe Herald, ‘Mangroves from the Water, Zahidah’, 18 April 2017.
• Humans in Geelong Website and Social Media, ‘Mangroves from the Water, Zahidah’.
• The Mangroves Festival 2017 selected press
• Zeytoun Millie, Zahidah, Coffee Morning, Dahabiya Magazine (p18), 2016
• Hoffert, B.  Essay on Connection an exhibition with Cheryl Osborne, July, 2016.
• Todorova, V. Umm Al Quwain mangroves illegally cut down by ‘camel farm labourers‘. The National. 4 February, 2016.
• Stafford, A. Guardians of the Mangroves. Selections Magazine. 29 February, 2016.
• Todorova, V. Artwork inspired by the beauty of Umm Al Quwain’s mangroves. The National. 2 August, 2015.
• Seaman, A. Syrian artist in Umm Al Quwain paints with the use of brushes, canvas – and a kayak. The National. 18 August, 2015.
• Anna Seaman Blog. Exploring  the UAE’s Coastline with Art. 1 October, 2015.
• Al Ittihad Newspaper. عين. October 5, 2015.
• New York University Abu Dhabi Art Gallery presents: Mangroves from the Water. 22-28 October, 2015.
• Imagine Science Films. “Mangroves from the Water” Exhibit Swirls into the NYUAD Project Space for 1 Week. October, 2015.
• Mangrove Action Project: Exploring the UAE’s coastline with art. 8 October, 2015.
• Al Ittihad Newspaper: مهمة عاجلة من أجل شجر القرم October 25, 2015.
• Madame Magazine. L’Art au secours des mangroves des EAU. Novembre, 2015: p.66-69.
• Global Art Daily. November, 2015.
• Gulf News 24/7.Mangroves from the Water, Art Exhibition Opening. 12 November, 2015.
• WAM Emirates News Agency.  الإمارات للفنون التشكيلية تنظم معرض “شجر القرم من الماء” في الشارقة  November 15, 2015.
• Al Ittihad Newspaper. شجر القرم من الماء» معرض متعدد الوسائط في الشارقة. November 17, 2015.
• Emarat Alyoum.  فنانين يعرضون لوحاتهم في مقر التشكيليين الإماراتية “شجر القرم من الماء” …. اتصل بالتراث الشعبي الإماراتي . November 21, 2015.
• Hoffert, B. Introduction: Bernard Hoffert introduces Zahidah in the context of Middle Eastern Art. November, 2014.
• Seaman, A. Keeping Art afloat. The National. 19 August, 2014.
• Nazy Beglary. In Conversation with H.E Zaki Nusseibeh. Harper’s Bazar Art, Issue 12, March/April, 2014.
• Latrobe Valley Express.Playing Host to Arabian Gulf Artist. 26 July, 2012: p.34.
• Hoffert, B. Zahidah in Perspective: Bernard Hoffert introduces ‘Zahidah’ in the context of Middle Eastern Art. June, 2012.
• Swiss Art Gate UAE. Tracking the Emirates, Art Exhibition. Ras Al Khaimah,2010, www.swissartgateuae.com/projects.asp
• Free Spirit. The Art Scene in RAK. RAK Free Trade Zone Magazine. Ras Al Khaimah, Issue 5, May/June, 2010: p.34.
• Off Campus Connection. Zahidah Zeytoun Millie. Caulfield: Monash University, Issue 5, Jun/Jul, 2009: p.6.
• Mavely, M. Art Exhibition Highlights RAK Heritage, Culture. The Gulf Times. Dubai, 13 Feb, 2004.
• Khaldie, S. Openingof Exhibition for Syrian Artist in Ras Al Khaimah. Al Khaleej Al Araby. Dubai, 12 Feb, 2004.
• Ahmed, A. 33 Local Artists Display Works at Exhibition. Gulf News. Dubai, 22 Mar, 2002.
• Tabloid. Celebrating Arabia. Gulf News. Dubai, 15 Dec, 2002.
• Raha, S. Arabian Treasures. Gulf News. Dubai, 3 Mar, 2002.
• Al Dahahn, N. Zahidah Zeytoun: Art, an expression of all that happens around us. Arab News. Dubai, 5 Jan, 2001.
• Shaghouri, T. Fujairah in Focus at Art Show. Gulf News. Dubai, 11 Dec, 2000.
• Al Khaleej Al Araby. Hamad Bin Saif Opens Art Exhibition.  Dubai, 3 Dec, 2000.
• Kalish, G. The Second Exhibition Youth Painters at UNESCO Club. Different styles united by “Creativity and Variety”. Al Safeer Al Araby.  Beirut, 26 Jul, 1996.

• Pilchuck Glass School, Washington DC, USA, 10 – 27 July 2022
• Monash Campus in Prato, Italy June – July 2010

• Higher Colleges of Technology, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, June-August 2008

• “Mangroves in Southern Victoria”. Presented via Zoom to the Rotary Club Corio Bay, 21 August 2020
• “Mangroves from the Water”.  Presented at the Humans in Geelong Expo 2018, Deakin University, 6 October 2018
• “Mangroves in Southern Victoria”. Presented at the  Combined Probus Club of Lara 2018, 17 October 2018
• “Mangrovres From The Water”. The World Trade Club Dubai, 24 May 2017
• Health Day Event – Mangroves – Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital, 26 September 2016
• From Safa To Starchitecture – Higher Colleges of Technology, Ras al Khaimah, UAE, 10 December 2008
• RAK Hospital, Swiss Art Gate UAE, Ras Al Khaimah, since April 2010, They All Want the Tallest Skyscraper, permanent display.
• RAK Free Trade Zone, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, since 2004, Impression 3.
• Fujairah Municipality, UAE, since 2000, Bull Fighting 2.
• Consultant– Organiser – A Day without Plastic Bags, Ajman City Council, UAE May 2017
• CEO, Mangroves Festival 2017; Mar 2016 – Apr 2017

  – Umm Al Quwain, UAE, 18 – 21 Mar. 30 artists.
  – In partnership with the Umm Al Quwain Government in association with the Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology, Wasit Wetland Reserves and UAE ministries and schools.
  – Achieved a partnership with the UAQ Government to host fine art, music, heritage and scientific exhibitions, workshops, tours and art competitions along with sporting events (walking and traditional rowing) in location in the mangroves over four days to raise awareness of the beauty and ecological importance of the mangroves regions of the UAE in order to protect them.
  – Lead the Mangroves from the Water Festival 2017 team

• Curator of touring exhibition/UAE; Oct 2015 – Mar 2016

  – Mangroves from the Water UAE Series, New York University of Abu Dhabi, Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi, Emirates Arts Society, Umm Al Quwain National Museum, thejamjar Dubai- October 2015 to March 2016
  – Sought & negotiated sponsorship for the entire series from the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi.
  – Prepared & coordinated all arrangements for 10 artists.
  – Liaised & negotiated with artists, galleries & sponsors regarding budgeting, installation, accommodation, tours, timings & placement.
  – Coordinated marketing including interviews with artists for MBC Arabia TV & the National newspaper.
  – Produced the exhibition booklet.
  – Managed all sales at front of house.
  – Organised inhouse sketching & sewing workshops (thejamjar). Organised & lead sketching from kayak workshops and boat tours in the Umm Al Quwain mangroves.
  – Participated as an artist.Multi-media: painting, film, installations, sculpture, short stories.

•  

• PhD Research Award, Deakin University, May 2023
• Certificate of Appreciation from the Smithsonian . Linking heritage, culture & environment through the Mangroves from the Water exhibition at the 2022 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
• Certificate of Appreciation from Sharjah Institute for Heritage.  Linking heritage, culture & environment through Mangroves from the Water exhibitions, Sharjah Institute for Heritage, 2 September 2021
• Community Events Grant from the City of Greater Geelong, to Mangroves from the Water, 24 February 2021
• ‘Conversation with the Moonah Tree’ painting has been selected as one of the final selection for the Islamic Museum Art Prize 2020 (AMA),  www.islamicmuseum.org.au/ama-2020-exhibition
• Certificate of Appreciation, Combined Probus Club of Lara, Vic, 17 October 2017
• Certificate of Appreciation, Sharjah American International School, UAE, 8 June 2017
• Certificate of Recognition, Municipality & Planting Department, Government of Ajman, UAE, 15 to 16 April 2017
• Certificate of Appreciation, Umm Al Quwain Business Women’s Council, UAQ Government, UAE, 2017
• Certificate of Appreciation, Government of Um Al Quwain, Municipality Department, UAE, 2 June 2016
• Certificate of Appreciation of Contribution and Successful Participation at the Sharjah Art Museum, UAE, 22 January to 8 February 2002
• Certificate of Recognition, Emirates Fine Art Society, UAE, 18 to 26 March 2001
• Certificate of Appreciation, Fujairah Government, UAE, 24 to 26 October 2001
• Certificate of Appreciation, El Mina Municipality, Lebanon, 26 February 1999
• Certificate of Gratitude and Appreciation, Minister of Culture & Higher Education, 26 February 1999
• Certificate of Appreciation, UNESCO Cultural Council of Southern Lebanon, 1 to 3 April 1998

• Certificate & medal of completion, Dubai Marathon, 2005
• Medal of completion, the RAK 10km run, 2006
• Medal of completion, the RAK 10km run, 2007
• Medal of completion, the RAK 10km run, 2008
• Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2009
• Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2010
• Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2011
• Medal of completion, the RAK 10km run, 2012
• Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2013
• Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2014
• Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2015
• Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2016