
Artist's Statement
I rely on two characteristics of art to inform my work: as a means to inform on ideas that matter, and art’s universality. The joy of expressing myself with colour is what inspired me to become a painter. I work upon different media: sculpture, ceramic, paper and canvas. I have used embroidery, stamps, henna stenciling, post cards, shells and stones in much of my recent work. I like to add fragments to the canvas as they help personalise the spiritual feeling of my use of colour. I also work from a small kayak, surrounded by mangroves and the sights, sounds, smells all connecting me to my work. Back on land it is classical music that keeps me focused on my work. But I move around a lot, and my studio can be out on the mountains just as often as at home or in the mangroves.
As a thematic artist my work moves across the subjects of life and death, freedom, humanity and nature, influenced by poetry as well as elements of mythology and philosophy.
Moving from one project to an entirely different one is an exciting challenge. However, once my work on the idea becomes tangible the project quickly grabs a life of its own, moving me along in its wake. Emotions have played an important role in the production of all my art work.
Upcoming exhibition
2022, June – 4 July
Washington, DC. Smithsonian Folklife Festival – the UAE Pavilion
Past Exhibitions
2022, 5 Mar. -18 Apr.
2022, 7 – 30 Jan.
2021, 15 Apr. -16 July
2021, 11-18 Aug.
Herring Island, Melbourne, A4 Art Australia National Exhibition
The Hive Ocean Grove, Summer Group Exhibition-Introducing Zahidah Zeytoun Millie
Islamic Museum of Australia, Missing Voices: Untold Stories of Australian Muslims
Curator & Artist Mangroves from the Water, The Gordon Gallery, Geelong, Australia
2020, 18 Aug – 2021, 20 Feb.
Islamic Museum of Australia/ Islamic Museum Art Prize Exhibition
2018, 7 October
Humans in Geelong Expo, Deakin Waterfront, Mangroves from the Water exhibition including a speech about the mangroves
2017, 4-5 November
‘Bellarine Art Trail 2017’, Queenscliff Uniting Church Hall
2017, 8-11 March
The Mangroves Festival 2017, Khor Umm Al Quwain
For more information and photos about Mangroves from the Water festival and exhibition visit:
Mangroves from the Water FACEBOOK or EXHIBITION BLOG.
Please see Mangroves Festival 2017 booklet to download: https://mangrovesfromthewater.wordpress.com
2016, Aug-Sept.
‘Connection‘, Steps Gallery, Melbourne
2016, March
Mangroves from the Water’, The Jam Jar Gallery, Dubai
2015, December
‘Mangroves from the Water’, Umm Al Quwain Museum, Umm Al Quwain
2015, November
‘Mangroves from the Water’, Emirates Fine Arts Society, Sharjah
2015, November
‘Mangroves from the Water’, Environment Agency Headquarters, Al Mamoura Building, Abu Dhabi
2015, October
‘Mangroves from the Water’, New York University – Project Space Gallery, Abu Dhabi
2014, June-Sept.
‘Expanding Horizons’, Salwa Zeidan Gallery, Abu Dhabi
2014, November
Alliance Francaise,’Connection’, Dubai
2014, March
Tashkeel in ‘Sikka Art Fair 2014’, Tashkeel House, Dubai
2014, February
RAK Art Festival, National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah
2013, March
Tashkeel in ‘Sikka Art Fair 2013’, Tashkeel House, Dubai
2013, November
‘Women in Art IX’, Courtyard Gallery, Dubai
2013, June
Salon de Refuses, Happenstance Gallery, London
2013, March
‘RAK from the Mangroves’, National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah,Ras Al Khaimah
2013, Feb. – March
‘Women in Art VIII’, Courtyard Gallery, Dubai
2012, July – August
‘Zahidah’, curated by Rodney Forbes, Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Melbourne
2010, July
‘Between Bodies’ opened by the international artist Stelarc, Monash Prato, Prato, Italy
2010, April
‘Tracking the Emirates, Contemporary Art Exhibition’, Swiss Art Gate UAE, Ras Al Khaimah
2008
‘From Al Safa to Starchitecture’ (Solo), Higher Colleges of Technology, Ras Al Khaimah
2006, December
Majlis Gallery, Dubai
2006, November
‘Impressions’ (Solo), Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah
2004, February
‘Impressions’ (Solo), Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah
2002, December
Majlis Gallery, Dubai
2002, April
‘Creativity’, Sharjah Art Precinct, Handicapped Guardians Association, Sharjah
2002, March
Majlis Gallery, Dubai
2002, January
‘The 21st Exhibition for Artists’, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah
2001, April
Hilton Fujairah, Fujairah
2001, April
‘Expressions of Faces’, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah
2001, March
‘The 20th Exhibition for Artists’, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah
2000, December
‘Fujairah in Art’ (Solo), Hilton Fujairah, Fujairah
1999, May
Forum de Beirut, Beirut
1999, February
Beit Al-Fen, Tripoli
1998, April
UNESCO Centre, Beirut
1994, August
Syrian Cultural Centre



