Motherhood: An Art and Photography Exhibition

Exhibition Duration
September 20 – November 16, 2025

Opening Night
Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 6 – 8 pm

Location
Kutubna Cultural Center, Nadd Al Hamar, Dubai

Admission
Free entry
No booking required

Catalogue: Here

This exhibition brings together artists and photographers from around the world, each offering a personal and deeply felt interpretation of motherhood. Through painting and photography the works explore themes of tenderness, resilience, heritage, and the intimate moments that define the maternal experience. Each piece contributes to a collective portrait of motherhood as both a universal bond and a uniquely individual journey.

The exhibition also sheds light on the cultural dimensions of motherhood—celebrating rituals and customs from the Gulf region and beyond—revealing how heritage and community shape the experience while preserving its personal essence. Together, these works invite viewers to connect with stories that span generations, geographies, and perspectives.

Featuring 20 artworks by 17 artists and 33 photographic works by 12 photographers, the exhibition represents 18 countries: Albania, Bahrain, Belarus, United Kingdom, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, France, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Russia, Tanzania, and Ukraine.

Artists and photographers include Alia Bent Sultan, Aman Ali, Anxhela El Ahmadieh, Anna Grosheva, Donia Hassan Othman, Ibrahim Nagi, John Parkes Railton, Karin Stumpf, Klaithem Aljabri, Komaldeep Makkar, Latifa Ahmad Almazrouei, Latifa Ahli, Maha Abdelmaged, Malak Yasser Dalloul, Mohammed Buhasan, Mona Biswarupa Mohanty, Nasta Martyn, Natallia Nagorniak, Nisreen Mounib Shawwa, Onuoha Columbus, Paresh Thukrul, Renata Athanasio, Rima Wehbi, Shrutika Gosavi, Tanya Yatsenko, Tumpa Banerjee, Wafa Khazendar, and Zaheda Muntazir.

The artists are currently residing across various countries, with the UAE serving as a hub for many of them, enriching the exhibition with a blend of local voices and global narratives. Together, they create a vibrant space for dialogue, reflection, and celebration of motherhood in all its complexity and beauty.

ARTISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES

Shrutika Gosavi (b. 1987, India) is a multidisciplinary artist and educator based in Sharjah, with over 13 years of experience in the visual arts. Drawing inspiration from the human form, memory, nature, and spirituality, her work spans painting, drawing, installation, sculpture, video, sound, and sustainable art-making. Holding a master’s degree in fine arts, Gosavi is deeply committed to education and community engagement. She runs the Sharjah chapter of Urban Sketchers, a community group dedicated to on-location sketching. Her work has been exhibited at platforms such as the Sikka Art Festival and Tashkeel Studio in Dubai, as well as through collaborative projects with the United Nations focused on sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Wafa Khazendar (b. 1963, Palestine) is a visual artist and writer. She holds a bachelor's degree in art from the American University in the Emirates and currently works at the Dubai Ministry of Education within the Directorate of Art and Cultural Activities. Khazendar is an active member of several artistic and literary organisations, including the Emirates Plastic Arts Association, Dubai International Arts Center, the Emirati Female Writers League, and the Emirates Writers and Authors Union. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to the fields of visual art, poetry, and short story writing.

Maha Abdelmaged (b. 2000, Egypt) is an artist based in Cairo. Her  work has been showcased in various exhibitions, both within academic settings and on national and international platforms. She has participated in university student exhibitions, the Youth Salon, the Talai’e (Pioneers) exhibition, the Light (Dhai) Festival for Arab Youth, and the Egypt International Triennale. Her work was acquired by the Youth Salon, and she was awarded second prize in printmaking at the Light (Dhai) Festival. In recognition of her artistic contributions, she received a full-time art grant from the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. Her artworks are part of collections in Egypt and abroad, including in Lebanon and Riyadh and are also being displayed in several galleries across Egypt.

Karin Stumpf (b. 1966, France) was raised in Cameroon, Great Britain, and Switzerland. She is based in Berlin. Stumpf embodies the spirit of a global citizen. She has enriched her artistic journey through courses with renowned German artists such as Jonas Burgert, Christopher Lehmpfuhl, Norbert Bisky, and Marion Eichmann. Having studied under Ute Wöllmann—a protégé of the esteemed Georg Baselitz—Stumpf brings a distinctive perspective to her work. Her paintings are characterised by successive layers that offer varying degrees of visibility, creating a dynamic tension between surface and depth. This interplay evokes the complex workings of memory, adding a profound and contemplative dimension to her practice.

Paresh Janardan Thukrul (b. 1992, India) is a visual artist based in India. After graduating with a diploma in fine arts in 2017, he began his artistic career by exploring a range of mediums and techniques. While he enjoys working across various forms, his favourites remain oil and watercolour. His work has been exhibited in several well-known galleries across India, including Kalakriti Art Gallery in Bangalore and 105 Arts Gallery in Chandigarh. Most recently, he held a solo exhibition at the prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai.

Mona Biswarupa Mohanty (b. 1977, India) is an Indian artist based in Dubai and is known for her depictions of women inspired by nature, folk traditions, and femininity. Originally from Mayurbhanj, Odisha, her work reflects the region’s tribal culture and natural beauty. After studying fashion at NIFT-New Delhi and IED-Milan, she spent 15 years in the design industry before shifting to visual arts. Her art blends flowing lines, rich textures, and bold contrasts to portray strength and vulnerability. Influenced by Wabi-sabi, her pieces celebrate imperfect beauty with a sense of calm and soulfulness.

Komaldeep Makkar (b. 1988, India) is an acrylic artist whose work captures human emotion through simple lines and clean, thoughtful compositions. Using vivid colours, her minimalist approach draws attention to raw feeling—allowing each line, shape, and colour to speak for itself.

Nisreen Mounib Shawwa (b. 1977, Jordan) is a Palestinian-Jordanian artist and fine art photographer based in Abu Dhabi. Her work blends photography, paint, and texture to transform memories into lasting visual narratives. Exploring themes of motherhood, heritage, and identity, her art invites viewers into an intimate and reflective space.

Malak Yasser Saleem Dalloul (b. 1998, Palestine) is a Palestinian visual artist based in Bahrain. Her work explores themes of memory, identity, and emotional landscapes—often drawing from her roots, personal experiences, and the collective grief and resilience of her people. Specialising in drawing and mixed media, Dalloul creates pieces that speak softly yet profoundly to the soul.

Latifa Ahli (b. 1978, United Arab Emirates) is an Emirati artist whose versatile practice spans portrait painting, visual arts, caricature, and cartoon illustration. With a deep-rooted passion for capturing the essence of her subjects through portraiture, exploring visual storytelling in various forms, and infusing humour and creativity into caricatures and cartoons, Latifa’s artistry resonates with both traditional craftsmanship and contemporary expression.

Tumpa Banerjee (b. 1979, India) is an award-winning international contemporary artist and an art curator based in Dubai. She has exhibited her artworks in museums and galleries in UNESCO (Greece), Italy, Georgia, Spain, Japan, Nepal, India, Malaysia, Netherlands, Germany, Paris, Armenia, Zurich, and all over the UAE. Tumpa is a visionary creator who approaches her art with a unique perspective, blending vibrant colors and textures to create mesmerizing compositions that invite viewers to explore their own interpretations and emotions. With a masterful command of dripping technique and different mediums, Tumpa pushes the boundaries of conventional art, inviting audiences to journey into the world of abstract art and experience it through emotional appeal.

Anxhela El Ahmadieh (Metaj) (b. 1995, Albania) is an artist living in the UAE. Working primarily with oil paint, she draws on emotion and personal stories as the foundation of her creative process. Her art often explores themes of identity, the feminine spirit, and the quiet strength found in everyday moments. Each piece is a visual translation of her feelings that words cannot always capture—an attempt to turn emotion into something tangible and lasting.

Renata Athanasio (b. 1983, France) was born and raised in southern Brazil and has always had a strong connection to design and the arts. Her background in architecture provided a solid foundation for exploring space and form, which she now translates freely onto canvas. As she transitioned from designing buildings to painting, her creativity and sketching skills naturally flowed into her practice. Living across three continents, with time spent in Paris, Athanasio has deeply enriched her artistic expression. Today, her vibrant works capture contemporary life through bold colours, striking contrasts, and dynamic compositions.

Onuoha Columbus (b. 1989, Nigeria) is a talented portrait artist known for blending realism with luxurious, contemporary elements. His work captures deep emotion and timeless beauty, often inspired by culture, identity, and the enduring nature of art. Based in the UAE, Columbus has completed numerous commissioned pieces for clients locally and internationally. His vision is to create art that outlives its subjects, telling stories for generations to come. With each brushstroke, he pushes the boundaries of portrait painting, aiming to leave a lasting mark on the art world.

John Parkes Railton (United Kingdom) is a British artist based in the UAE. Art is his partner in life, sometimes his best friend, a shoulder to cry on, and sometimes his enemy. John has been painting for over four decades and taught art and design for 30 of those 40 years. He had over 10 solo exhibitions in Spain and has been involved in numerous group shows and art fairs. His stand in last year’s World Art Dubai 2024 was selected as the best stand in the UK pavilion. 

Klaithem Aljabri (b. United Arab Emirates) is an artist from Al Ain. Her multidisciplinary practice spans painting, photography, and installations, serving as a means to translate her vision and engage with the world around her. Aljabri’s work often explores themes of femininity, culture, and tradition, delving into the multifaceted experience of being a modern Khaleeji woman. Through art, dialogue, and connection, her practice becomes a journey of self-discovery.

 

Nasta Martyn (b. 1992, Poland) is an artist, graphic designer, illustrator, writer, and poet based in Poland. She graduated from the State Academy of Slavic Cultures with a degree in art and also holds a bachelor's degree in design. Martyn writes fairy tales and poems, and illustrates short stories, often bringing to life a world of fantastical creatures—unicorns, animals with human faces, and, most notably, the image of a man, bird, siren— a recurring motif in her work. In 2020, she participated in Poznań Art Week.

 

PHOTOGRAPHERS’ BIOGRAPHIES

Alia Bent Sultan (UAE) was born in Deira, the heart of old Dubai. Her interest in photography and cameras led her to become a photographer on a professional level, Alia is currently a Director of Family Development in The Ministry of Community Development. Her creativity is reflected in her hobby, photography, where most of her photos can be seen as art pieces rather than pictures. To people, a photo is just a reflection of a moment, but to Alia, a photograph tells a story. Alia uses photography as a medium to reflect on social issues within her society. Shedding light on ongoing social issues. Alia is continuously sharing her stories with the world through her photographs.

Aman Ali (b. 1996, India) is a film photographer and storyteller born and raised in Abu Dhabi. With a lifelong passion for narratives—from childhood tales to historical deep-dives, his work blends visual imagery with emotional depth. Drawn to the tangible and imperfect nature of film. Aman uses analog photography to slow down and capture life as it is: fleeting, candid, and real. His images reflect the quiet poetry of everyday moments, aiming to evoke memory, emotion, and truth. 

Anna Grosheva (b. 1990, Russia) is a portrait photographer based in Dubai since 2019. She has been exploring photography through personal and commercial works. Her photography focuses on authentic moments, natural light, and people.

Donia Hassan Othman (b. 2003, Egypt) is an emerging visual artist and a fine art photographer, her artistic vision flourished through her five years of studying women and working on capturing the beauty of female aesthetics in different themes and semantics, which enabled her to offer novel precepts in fashion and portrait photography through her five years of studying women and working on capturing the beauty of female aesthetics in different themes and semantics, that enabled her to offer novel precepts in fashion and portrait photography. 

Ibrahim Nagi (b. 1988, Pakistan) is a versatile photographer based in the UAE. Photography is not just his profession, it’s his passion. It's the language he uses to express feelings, stories, and moments. He works with many styles such as portrait, nature, wildlife, and street photography. Every image he takes is a piece of his heart. He believes photography is not just about capturing visuals, it is about portraying emotional and silent stories that words cannot tell.

Latifa Ahmad Almazrouei (b. 1999, UAE) is a passionate photographer drawn to capturing emotion and culture through warm, intimate visuals. She loves blending authenticity with creativity, often finding inspiration in heritage, people, and the quiet moments that speak the loudest. Growing up in Jumeirah in the early 2000s, she was shaped by a close-knit community and influenced by her mother’s deep appreciation for life’s beauty. Photography became her creative outlet, allowing her to embrace the unpredictability of the world. In particular, street photography has given her the freedom to capture authentic, everyday details that often go unnoticed, yet tell the most genuine stories.

Mohammed Buhasan (Bahrain) is a fine art photographer and cultural documentarian whose work captures the intersection of heritage, identity, and contemporary life. For over two decades, he has documented the fading traditions of Bahrain and the Gulf, blending visual storytelling with cultural preservation. As Founder and Executive Partner of Al-Warraqoon Publishing, he has produced over 100 art and photography books celebrating Arab culture. His award-winning works, including FIAP Gold Medal pieces, have been exhibited internationally, reflecting his passion for both national identity and human resilience. Through exhibitions, books, and workshops, Buhasan continues to champion photography as a universal language of memory and connection.

Natallia Nagorniak (b. 1988, Belarus) is a photographer based in the UAE, with Belarusian and Ukrainian roots. As a mother of three, she concentrates on capturing mothers and their emotional moments. Photography gives her a sense of liberty and a way to transform personal moments into visual narratives. She seeks significance in minute details and strives to create images that feel both honest and intentional. Her work invites viewers to decelerate, introspect, and engage with what’s familiar yet often overlooked.

Rima Wehbi (b. 1980, Lebanon) is a mother of two, and has called the UAE home for the past 30 years. For 12 years, she has been behind the lens, trusted by royalty and iconic figures to capture their truth. Her signature is candid, natural, lifestyle photography, moments stripped of pretense, honest and alive. Her archive, rich in black and white, strips everything to its essence, exposing the raw emotion beneath. Motherhood, the divinity of it, the bond she shares with her children is what drives her. She is the photographer who notices what often goes unseen, giving voice and light to the fierce, quiet strength of mothers.

Tanya Yatsenko (b. 1988, Ukraine) is a photographer living in Dubai since 2015. She creates intimate family portraits that reflect authentic and natural moments. Working mostly in clients’ homes or familiar spaces, Tanya captures life as it is—with warmth and honesty. For her, photography is a way to capture everyday moments before they pass. Her passion is to show that even the most mundane moments are beautiful, worth capturing, and worth remembering.

Zaheda Muntazir (b. 1996, Tanzania) is a Dubai-based emerging film photographer, mother of two, and perpetual documenter of everyday beauty. With a background in journalism. Her work focuses on documenting everyday moments that reflect motherhood and identity. A recent explorer of analog photography, Zaheda draws inspiration from slow living, coffee rituals, and the soft chaos of raising young children. When she’s not behind the lens, she finds comfort in crochet, creation, and the small details that often go unnoticed.