A hub for creativity and culture, the UAE art scene inspires creatives around the world. Emirati artists are making their mark in the art world and the development of the art scene in the UAE is vast.
From poets to photographers, GRAZIA brings you six Emirati artists to keep on your radar.
Noora Al Serkal
A dedicated and gifted Emirati digital artist, Noora Al Serkal is passionate about every element of creativity, including the creation of aesthetically pleasing designs. She produces digital content in a range of genres, including animation, fashion and art. She has collaborated with beauty and fashion conglomerates including Sephora Middle East and Level Shoes.
Omar Al Gurg
Omar Al Gurg is an Emirati artist who specializes in architecture and photography. He holds a degree in Architecture from Queens University Belfast in Northern Ireland. Omar creates photography masterpieces by combining his passion for art with his background as an architect. He is the creator of MODU, a store selling interactive items and articles designed to foster a sentimental and intimate bond between the consumer and the brand, it features products such as stools and tables.
Moza Almatrooshi
Moza Almatrooshi is a conceptual artist whose work is currently situated within the study of Arabian Peninsula mythology that has been erased, which she links to contemporary ways of perceiving. Through this perspective, text-based work, narrative, cooking, movies, audio media and performances all explore these themes. She gained an MFA degree from the Slade School of Fine Art in London, UK.
Aisha Juma
Aisha Juma is an Emirati visual artist. She is an art educator who studied Fine Arts in Cairo and Boston and later gained an MFA in Arts from the University of Dundee, Scotland. She is currently a freelance visual artist and member of the cultural office women’s creative network in Dubai. Additionally, she was a former Art Director at Al Jalila Cultural Center for Children in Dubai.
Nujoom AlGhanem
Nujoom Alghanem is an Emirati artist, poet and multi-award-winning film director. She has produced eleven films comprising of five short fiction films and six feature-length documentaries. Her documentaries have earned recognition with multiple local, regional and international prizes. She currently works as a film instructor for some of the educational and professional institutes in the UAE as well as a film, media and cultural consultant.
Abdulla Lutfi
One of the most well-known artists in the UAE is Emirati Abdulla Lutfi, who is well-recognized for his black-and-white pop art illustrations. Thousands of passengers per day witness Lutfi’s distinctive style of drawing, which is permanently displayed at DXB Terminal 3 as a part of a diorama depicting daily life at the busy airport. Around Dubai, Lutfi has contributed his work.
