Digital Art Exhibition: Printed Works

Exhibition Duration
January 17 – March 23, 2026

Opening Night
Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 6 – 8 pm

Location Kutubna Cultural Center, Nadd Al Hamar, Dubai

Admission
Free entry
No booking required

The Digital Art Exhibition presents more than 35 artworks by artists from around the world, transforming digital creations into printed works. The collection explores themes such as healing, protest, heritage, identity, and the evolving relationship between technology and human experience. Drawing inspiration from histories, cultures, and emotions, these artists use digital tools, including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, IbisPaint X, Affinity Photo, ArtRage, Krita, TouchDesigner, Lightroom, and Canva.

Each artist offers a distinct cultural and emotional viewpoint, and their works resonate with many viewers who explore the source of their inspiration. Using textures, symbols, and digital techniques, the artists challenge boundaries between the physical and virtual domains. By presenting digital art in print, the exhibition encourages thoughtful engagement and explores how technology has endless possibilities to expand and express various themes using multiple techniques. It invites the audience to discuss not only the thoughts and inspirations they gain from the artworks, but also the techniques involved, highlighting how digital tools can sometimes closely resemble traditional painting, leaving viewers deeply impressed. The exhibition’s goal is to showcase this versatile art form and its limitless creative potential alongside the skill of the amazing participating artists from all around the world.

The Digital Art Exhibition features 27 artists: Abeer Al Edani, Ahmet Albayrak, Andrea Martínez, Aseel AlJaberi, Diana Zhuk, Elza Iilaeva, Emily Yoselin, Fabi Faisel, Faezeh Ghavidel, Fiddies Maina, Georgi Levchev, Hiba Shireen, Homa Abdoli, Kashish Rabban, Masah Antar, Neemo Mungai, Nisreen Shawwa, Nwanji Kyng Onyebuchi (sire), Otba Mushaweh, Raheela Abro, Rayzel Hanifah, Sabeen Yameen, Shehzad Afzaal, Stacey Kalkowski, Tejumola Animashaun, Valerie Florina D’souza, and Ziqi Yu. Together, they represent 16 countries: Bulgaria, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Ukraine, Syria, Türkiye, USA.

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.

The exhibition is curated by Nora Qudah and intern Celine El Khatib. It runs from January 17 to March 9, 2026 at Kutubna Cultural Center.

ARTISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES

Abeer Al Edani (b. 1980, Iraq) is a Dubai-based Iraqi artist with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Self-taught in art, she merges technical skill with creativity, exhibiting globally in venues across Europe, Asia, and at Expo 2020 Dubai. Her work features in the UN art collection, and she has received awards including Filmfare Magazine’s Outstanding Contribution in Art & Culture (2024) and the People’s Choice Award at Noon Arts (2020). Abeer's influence is notable both regionally and globally, as evidenced by her international representation of Iraq, participation in regional festivals and UNESCO projects, and selection for Google Dubai’s MENA Bootcamp.

Ahmet Albayrak (b. 1982, Turkiye) is a distinguished professor based in Turkiye. He graduated, top of his class, from Erciyes University’s Faculty of Fine Arts. He earned his master’s and doctorate with honors at Marmara University by 2008, and since then has worked internationally, receiving awards and participating in major events in cities such as Paris and New York. In 2012, he became an Associate Professor and completed prestigious residencies at Cité Internationale des Arts Paris and the School of Visual Arts in New York. Alongside teaching studio arts, design, and contemporary art, he has curated for the Central Bank of Turkiye, taught at the Diplomacy Academy, chaired the TRT Board (2021–2025), and serves on the Cultural and Art Policies Board of the Presidency of Turkiye.

Andrea Pineda Martínez (b. 1994, Mexico) is an Architect based in Mexico and interested in illustration as a means of personal expression. Her digital work focuses on light, color, and the relationship between people and spaces, as a natural extension of her architectural background.

Aseel AlJaberi (b. 1998, Palestine) is a Palestinian architect and visual artist whose work blends art, architecture, and design. Her practice examines memory, identity, and place through layered visual stories, often using mixed media, digital art, printmaking, and photography. She has exhibited both locally and internationally, most recently with her solo show, Palimpsests of Memory and Stone in Paris. Her work addresses urban complexity and the shifts in human and architectural environments.

Diana Zhuk (b. 1990, Ukraine) is a Ukraine-based artist and illustrator whose work merges traditional painting with digital art. After years of acrylic painting, she transitioned into digital illustration, creating deeply personal yet universally resonant imagery. Her portfolio includes over 400 works, spanning intimate illustrations to commissioned book and album covers. Through her art, she explores inner light, presence, and the subtle beauty of everyday emotions, as she shares her creative process on social media and connects with a growing audience.

Elza IULAEVA (b. 1984, Russia) is an artist who began pursuing art at age 35, following a career in engineering and years focused on the demands of her family life. She studied drawing in Sochi, took illustration courses, explored ceramics, and developed a style influenced by Bashkortostan’s nature and heritage. Her work features themes of nature, animals, sunsets, feminine figures, and philosophical ideas, with highlighted portraits created during a marathon exploring various styles in June 2025. Since 2023, Elza has lived in Dubai and gained international recognition through World Art Dubai 2024 and a record-setting abstract painting project in 2025.

Emily Yoselin (b. 2010, Indonesia) is based in Indonesia and enjoys drawing and turning her imagination into reality. She has been drawing since the age of four. Over the years, she has continuously worked to improve her art day by day and has never given up. Even today, Emily continues learning and striving to become a better artist.

Fabi Faisel (b. 1999, India) is an architect by profession and an artist by passion. Her journey with design and art began at a young age, evolving into a lifelong pursuit of creativity and expression. Fabi, currently based in Dubai, works as an interior designer while continuing to explore the intersection of space, emotion, and art through her personal works.

Faezeh Ghavidel (b. 1982, Iran) is a graphic designer and a multimedia artist based in Iran. Her artworks, showcased and sold on digital platforms, are presented through short videos with narrative captions that accompany physical watercolor paintings animated and set to music that she plays herself. She has held 15 exhibitions in Europe, America, and the UAE. Over 200 of her works are part of private art collections. A curator, collector, and art judge, she is also a prolific author currently writing her third book.

Fiddies Maina (b. 1999, Kenya) is a Nairobi-based graphic designer and illustrator whose work blends emotion, narrative, and the often covert poetry of everyday life. Focused on bold, expressive portraits of women, she celebrates resilience, strength, and the many facets of womanhood. Transforming personal memory into visually moving stories, her work evokes avid curiosity through vibrant color and thoughtful composition. Inspired by simple joys like painting, nature walks, new foods, and cats, she continually enriches the warmth and depth of her practice.

Georgi Levchev (b. 1975, Bulgaria) is a visual artist based in Norway and working across painting, drawing, installations, and conceptual actions. Educated at Art School "Dora Gabe" in Dobrich and the Interactive Design Institute, University of Hertfordshire, he engages deeply with contemporary visual language and digital aesthetics. Active in Bulgaria’s art scene since the early 1990s, he has participated in numerous exhibitions, happenings, and plein-air projects, and has held solo shows in Dobrich. Levchev’s practice centers on painting as an evolving dialogue between material, tone, and intuition, often inspired by nature’s forms and energies. His work combines conceptual clarity with playful experimentation, layering lines, textures, and colors to create compositions that explore harmony, subtle tonal interplay, and philosophical depth. Each piece embodies a sensory or reflective “secret,” serving his lifelong dedication to artistic exploration, discovery and innovation.

Hiba Shireen (b. 1999, India) is an architect, interior designer, and watercolor artist based in Dubai. She has been painting since she was eight, capturing places, moments, and memories using watercolor and acrylic. Her work blends structure and spontaneity, inspired by travel, architecture, and the small details of everyday life. She also loves sharing what she knows through workshops and creative projects, helping others discover the joy of watercolor and origami.

Homa Abdoli (b. 1994, Iran) is an artist and designer based in Dubai. Homa holds a master’s degree in design and works across painting, sculpture, product design and digital arts. Her artistic approach blends surreal and emotional elements, focusing on inner experiences that are difficult to put into words. Through visual forms, she expresses deep personal emotions and invites the viewer to reflect on overlooked aspects of life, especially those connected to memory, pain, and silent resilience.

Kashish Rabban (b. 1993, India) is a digital and traditional artist based in the UAE who is inspired by the beauty of nature. She sees art in everything from flowers and landscapes to light and texture and aims to capture that beauty in her work. With experience as an art educator and freelance creative, Kashish has explored different techniques and mediums, constantly experimenting and refining her style. As a mother and a dreamer, she brings patience, observation, and emotion into every piece she creates. Through her art, Kashish hopes to share the sense of wonder and appreciation she feels when observing the world around her.

Masah Eyad Antar (b. 2009, Syria) is an artist based in the UAE. Masah’s creative journey is rooted in a deep appreciation for the emotional and expressive power of art. Over the years, she has developed a versatile style, moving between expressive abstract influences and charming cartoon illustrations, using watercolors, alcohol markers, and digital media. She has achieved notable success in both school-based and external art competitions, consistently supported by her parents who nurtured her artistic passion from an early age. While art remains a beloved hobby, Masah continues to refine her skills and explore new ways to connect with others through creative emotional expression.

Neemo Mungai (b. 1995, Kenya) is a self-taught photographer and horticulturist currently based in Ruiru, Kenya. Neemo primarily focuses on themes of connection, identity and emotion. Her visual storytelling aims to cultivate empathy and initiate meaningful dialogue about our shared human experience. She is currently a mentee with the Through the Lens Collective (TTLC).

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.

Nwanji Kyng Onyebuchi (b. 1993, Nigeria) is a visual artist residing in Lagos, Nigeria. With a passion for creating and exploring new mediums, Kyng began working with digital painting, and over the years, it led him to create several beautiful pieces and collaborate with different brands. When he is not creating, Kyng enjoys reading about African history, learning new things, and playing video games.

Otba Mushaweh (b. 1989,  Syria-Turkiye) is a Saudi-born, Istanbul-based designer and artist with over 19 years of experience in branding, visual communication, Arabic type design, and abstract art. Rooted in Arabic calligraphy, manuscripts, and visual heritage, he founded Logos Guide Studio in 2006 and launched TYPESTAGE in 2010. His work spans custom Arabic typefaces, brand identities, and digital abstract artworks exhibited in Dubai and New York, combining cultural depth with modern design to create meaningful, timeless visual solutions.

Raheela Abro (b. 1982, Pakistan) is a Karachi-based artist practicing since 2010, with solo and group exhibitions locally and internationally. Her works figure in prominent collections worldwide. Holding a BFA from the University of Karachi, an MA in Art Education from Beaconhouse National University, she has taught at art institutions in Pakistan. Raheela is pursuing a PhD while currently lecturing at the University of Karachi. She has given guest lectures, led workshops, and served as a juror and remains actively engaged in research and as a presenter at conferences. Her work has been featured in respected publications.

Rayzel Hanifah (b. 2001, Indonesia) is an illustrator based in Indonesia. Rayzel's creative practice is diverse, spanning various mediums like animation and painting. He explores different avenues of creation, including storytelling, commissioned projects, and work inspired by philosophical concepts.

Sabeen Yameen (b. 1995, Pakistan) is an architect, visual artist, and researcher based in Pakistan. Sabeen examines shrinking public spaces in urban Karachi, exploring how this affects collective identity, social equity, and gender empowerment. Using digital painting, illustration, animation, and soft pastels, she creates narratives that blur the line between imagination and documentation. Her work has been shown at VM Art Gallery, T2F Gallery, and the Lahore Design Festival, and she has collaborated with organizations including the World Bank, Instagram, Disney, and Aurat March. Her drawings and illustrations have been published internationally, and she is a 2025 scholarship recipient of the School of Radical Attention (USA) as well as an alumna of Standard Chartered Women in Tech Cohort 6.

Shehzad Afzaal (b. 1992, Pakistan) is a Dubai-based digital artist and art consultant with over eight years of experience. His work blends Arabic calligraphic influences with modern abstract forms, exploring emotion, movement, and cultural expression. He has collaborated with leading UAE galleries, including ArtPlus Gallery, Gallery One, and Gallery Mermaid where he created bespoke art for luxury interiors and hospitality spaces. As the founder of Gulf Art Gallery, he curates contemporary framed artworks, prints, and canvas collections. His style reflects clean aesthetics, expressive brushwork, and a strong connection to regional art heritage.

Stacey Kalkowski (United States of America) is a multimedia artist, filmmaker and game designer living and working in the United Arab Emirates. After working 12 years in the film industry in Hollywood, California, she returned to school to earn her Master of Fine Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and subsequently California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). When she is not teaching art and game design at UAE University, she travels the world and enjoys time with her dog Harley at her small farm in Roccaspinalveti, Abruzzo, Italy.

Valerie Florina D’souza (b. 2002, India) is an illustrator and artist based in India. Valerie crafts her art and weaves together stories from a small place in Chennai. A graduate in visual arts, she loves creating engaging and colourful narratives using both traditional and digital mediums that resonate with people. She has exhibited her works at Gallery ACF in New Delhi and collaborated with a fellow artist in a live painting performance during the United Nations Delegation programme at Stella Maris College. Currently Valerie is writing and illustrating a children’s book about a glimpse of the Universe.

Ziqi Yu (b. 1968, China) was born in Guangzhou and raised in the U.S., resulting in two contrasting cultures that shaped his creative journey. He graduated from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, with dual degrees in Graphic Design and Environmental Design. Over the past 25 years, he has worked across the creative industries in both the U.S. and China, serving as Creative Director at Sapient, Magnet, and MarchFIRST, where he developed brand strategies and visual identities for multinational corporations. Yet, design was only the beginning of his journey. Over time, he transformed this professional foundation into a deeper artistic practice-one that fuses Eastern aesthetics with modern abstraction. His work is inspired by the wabi-sabi philosophy of Sen no Rikyū and the concept of emptiness (liubai) as a spiritual threshold, where absence becomes presence. He is an artist who explores spirituality through light and silence. His works are intersections of time, cosmos, and inner stillness-an attempt to capture the eternal resonance that emerges between deconstruction and reassembly, form and formlessness.