Artist Interviews

The Interviews segment is a vital, heartfelt part of our platform dedicated to elevating the voices of deserving artists from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). At Naso, we believe that every artist’s story is unique and deserves to be told exactly as they wish to share it. Our interviews are a collaborative act, where we listen, reflect, and work together with artists to present their narratives authentically. This partnership is what makes our interviews truly special; it’s a space for genuine storytelling, rooted in respect and mutual understanding.

Our core mission is to create a home for emerging MENA artists, providing them with a platform to share their voices with pride and confidence. We aim to amplify their stories, showcasing the richness, diversity, and complexity of their artistic journeys. By doing so, we not only support their individual growth but also ensure that their contributions are recognized within the broader cultural landscape.

The importance of this segment extends beyond individual artists. In a region with a rich and complex history of artistic expression, giving a dedicated space for MENA voices helps challenge Western-centric narratives and fosters a more inclusive understanding of art history.

It is crucial for regional identity, cultural pride, and global recognition. Through our artist interviews, Naso Art Journal strives to be a faithful voice for the region’s creatives - a trusted platform where stories are told with integrity, passion, and respect.

2026 - 2025

Wedad AlBakr - Saudi Arabian Fine Artist and Painter - Cover of Article titled "On Presence, Surrender, and Meeting Herself"

Wedad Al-Bakr

On Presence, Surrender, and Meeting Herself

Portrait of Arab (Egyptian) Artist Ebrahim Bahaa-Eldin - Photographer who works in France.

Ebrahim Bahaa-Eldin

To Observe, Slowly

Iranian Artist Fatemeh Heidarhosseini, painter, student of the RCA (Royal College of Art) in London. Work speaks about the painful separation from home by seeking refuge in the UK.

Fatemeh Heidarhosseini

On The Shape of Remembering

Qatari photographer Hamad AlFayhani in the studio at Doha Fire Station in front of photographs of the Gulf.

Hamad AlFayhani

Cover story of Issue 3

portrait of Palestinian Painter Malak Mattar, work centers around memories and compassion following her exile from Palestine due to the Israeli Occupation.

Malak Mattar

On Memories, Compassion, and the Stories that Remain

Bady Dalloul, Syrian Artist, working in France, in exile because of war and making work revolving war through collage and mixed media.

Bady Dalloul

On Inventing Badland

Egyptian Painter Amina Yahia, Represented by Hunna Art, work revolves around social commentary and resisting outdated values present in Arab society.

Amina Yahia

On Ritual, Resistance, and the Body in Suspension

Husna Samer, young painter based in Abu Dhabi, UAE from India. Work consists of landscapes that parallel themes of spiritual practice of the islamic faith.

Husna Samer

On Tracing Longing

Hesham Sharif, Bahraini painter whose work pushes the boundaries of societal norms and commentary through an impressionist painting style.

Hisham Sharif

On Intuition, Risk, and What the Work Gives Back

Portrait of Shaima Shamsi, Artist holding an MFA from NYU Abu Dhabi, work revolves around absence and what it holds. Working across sculpture, paper, and installation.

Shaima Shamsi

On Absence, and What it Holds

Sudani Artist Reem Aljeally in her studio in Cairo, Eygpt. Alternate world building through painting, architect by trade.

Reem Aljeally

On Expanding Space & Holding Home

Kuwaiti Artist Jassem AlSanea working primarily through sculpture. His practice centres on the construction of hyper-realistic figures, often drawn from inherited myths and narratives that have faded from everyday life in the GCC.

Jasem AlSanea

On Myth, Unease, and What Remains

Born and raised in Iran, Amir Khojasteh is an artist whose practice moves between painting and sculpture, shaped by early encounters with image-making and storytelling. Now based in Ghent, Belgium.

Amir Khojasteh

On Playing with the Monster

Kaïs Dhifi Born and based in the realm of Metalia, Kaïs describes himself as both wanderer and forger, an artisan of myth who divides his time between crafting artifacts and exploring the rocky desert that composes his world.

Kaïs Dhifi

On Forging Myths in Metal

2026 - 2025