With social media playing a crucial role in artistic exposure, Instagram has become a vibrant platform for showcasing their unique visions. Whether exploring themes of identity, heritage, or contemporary issues, these ten Dubai-based female artists are leaving their mark on the global art world. Here are the must-follow creatives who bring fresh perspectives and inspiring aesthetics to your feed.
Ana Liz Cordero
Ana Liz Cordero is an Ecuadorian Visual Artist, CEO of Ana Liz Cordero Artist, and the creative and artistic director of Chaka, a community of artists and art gallery located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Chaka promotes the symbiosis between artists inspired by nature with the goal of raising awareness about environmental preservation.
Ana Liz inaugurated her namesake art studio upon arriving in Dubai in late 2019, where she has distinguished herself as one of the most prominent artists in the market. Ana Liz’s art promotes life, expressing hope and resilience. Each painting is an invitation to pause, observe, and reflect on life itself. Her artistic practice revalues the discarded, positioning her as a pioneer of sustainable art in the local market by creating luxury abstract works that transform forgotten materials into unique and meaningful pieces.
Such was the interest generated in the local media that, by late 2022, senior officials from the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority invited her to be among the featured artists of the city to occupy one of the 60 heritage houses from the 19th century that make up the Historic District of Al Fahidi (Al Bastakiya), a neighborhood that is the third most visited point in the city due to its status as part of the nation’s cultural heritage.
In January 2023, the exhibition space in House 40 of the historic district was inaugurated, where Ana Liz seized the important exhibition platform offered by the Ministry not only to showcase her work but also, fully aware of the challenges faced by South American artists in the Middle East, to provide an opportunity for other South American artists and artisans to exhibit their work. This is why the community and gallery are named “Chaka,” which means “bridge” in Quechua, inspired by the bridges that the space aims to build between South American countries and Dubai.
For more informtion, please visit https://analizcordero.com/ and follow analizcordero.
Julia Smolenkova
Julia Smolenkova is a contemporary artist known for her bold use of color, geometry, and architectural elements in her paintings. Originally from Russia, she has gained international recognition and is now based in Dubai, where she continues to develop her unique artistic style. Her work often explores the intersection of urban landscapes and abstraction, capturing the rhythm and energy of modern cities. Inspired by both classical traditions and futuristic aesthetics, she creates dynamic compositions that blend structure and fluidity.
Her art has been exhibited in various international galleries, showcasing her ability to transform everyday cityscapes into vibrant, thought-provoking pieces. Julia is also active on social media, where she shares her creative process, exhibitions, and artistic insights. Her work offers a fresh perspective on contemporary urban art, making her a standout figure in Dubai’s thriving art scene.
Follow the artist on Instagram – julia_smolenkova.
Salmah Al Mansoori
Salmah Almansoori is an Abu Dhabi-based multidisciplinary artist, born in Ghayathi, Aldhafra, in 2001. Her studio practice investigates the intersections of identity through place, time, and memory, where she has developed a diverse body of work that includes site-specific installation, painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and video. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art from Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 2023.
She has exhibited her artworks extensively over the past few years, with her most recent solo exhibition titled “Memories Are Home” at Cala Del Forte in Ventimiglia, Italy. She has also participated in numerous group exhibitions, both locally in the UAE and internationally, including Rizq Art Initiative, Abu Dhabi (2024); Firetti Contemporary, Dubai (2024); Duplex AIR, Portugal (2024); NYC CRIT CLUB, New York (2024); Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi (2023); Miza, Abu Dhabi (2023); Dubai Design District, Dubai (2023); Foundry Gallery, Dubai (2022); and Puertas Adentro, Punta Del Este, Uruguay (2022).
Additionally, she has been involved in various residencies and programs, including the Mentorship Programme by Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi, UAE (2024); I’m Nobody, Iceland (2023); The Canopy Program, New York, USA (2023); Volume 6, Samt Alternative Art School Residency Program, Dubai (2022); MANGO Residencia Para Artistas, Argentina; and Puertas Adentro, Casa de Artista, Uruguay (2022).
Follow the artist on Instagram – visualsalmah.
You can read more on our site: A Solo Exhibition “Memories are Home” by Salmah Almansoori at Cala del Forte, Ventimiglia.
Yousra Wahba
Yousra Wahba (born in Saudi Arabia in 1977) is an Egyptian artist based in Dubai, UAE; she explores the interplay between nature, memory, and identity through her artwork. Yousra explores transformation and evolution, delving into profound questions about reality and the human journey. Her art revolves around the concept of the fluidity of life and the constant state of change, freezing memories, and identity that resonate with the alchemy of the natural world. She expresses her experiences with loss, change, and the resilience of female identity.
With a background in Pharmaceutical Science, Yousra deftly bridges science and art. Drawing inspiration from exploring nature as a deep space of rich scientific culture through research and study of the morphology of humans, plants, and animals, she pushes the boundaries of her chosen materials to create sculptures and installations that capture the vibrancy of the natural world. Her artwork embodies a constant sense of transformation, mirroring the ever-evolving nature of the natural world and the human experience.
Yousra’s art is a captivating play of contrasts, such as light and dark, transparency and opacity, mirroring the complexity of life. Her work delves into the interconnectedness of nature and human existence, revealing the patterns in biology and emotions. It invites viewers to reflect on the beauty of life’s fleeting moments, leaving them captivated by the intricate beauty of her creations.
Her artworks are primarily crafted from transparent resin, a medium chosen for its profound symbolism. This explicit, luminous, and untamed material skillfully mirrors the intricate dance of life, symbolic of preserving memories or moments that are affected by the passage of time, creating a fragile yet enduring representation.
Follow the artist on Instagram – _yousra_w.
You can read more articles on our site: Translucent Threads of Life by Yousra Wahba at Firetti Contemporary, Dubai, UAE.
Sawsan Al Bahar
As an artist, architect and researcher, Sawsan’s studio practice centres on drawing and site-specific installation, bridging the three disciplines. Sawsan’s slow and intense draftsmanship, and her 3d printed installation are an exploration of the tension between abstraction and depiction; hand and machine; physical and digital. She often depicts places and objects from 3d scans both constructed and found, accessing inaccessible landscapes and places in Syria and Palestine.
Sawsan asks questions about the qualities of time, place and displacement as they occur to people of the Middle East. Her work addresses a longstanding preoccupation with a notion of home as myth, often centering on her own life and family history.
Her current interest lies in the materiality and ephemerality of drawing, focusing on explorations of line, composition, form and plasticity.
Follow the artist on Instagram – sawsan.albahar.
You can read more articles on our site: AURA Skypool Launches AURA ART with Sawsan Al Bahar’s “Leaving is Home” and The Institutional Solo Show “33 songs, 99 words” by Sawsan Al Bahar at Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah.
Maha Zeibak
Maha Zeibakis a Palestinian artist based in Dubai, UAE. Her journey has been one of both liberation and challenge, as she embraced the unpredictability of abstract art. Over time, she grew to love the spontaneity of the medium, yet realized that technical mastery was necessary to fully convey her vision. For two years, she dedicated herself to refining her skills, initially focusing on deeply personal themes such as motherhood and intimate portraits of her children. Her work became a reflection of her identity, shaped by her unique background as a Palestinian raised in Greece, educated in North America, and now raising a family in Dubai.
In 2023, her artistic direction took a dramatic turn as she became increasingly aware of the media’s dehumanization of Palestinians. Her personal narrative merged with a broader collective struggle, inspiring her to use art as a form of resistance rather than just a means of self-exploration. This series is her response to that realization—a deliberate body of work that challenges divisive perspectives and demands recognition of the human cost of injustice. Through realistic depictions of life in Palestine, she seeks to highlight both the struggles and the resilience of its people.
Her commitment to this cause is evident in her exhibitions and acquisitions. In 2023, two of her pieces were acquired by The Palestine Museum in Birzeit as part of their permanent collection. Her work has also been exhibited at Tashkeel in Dubai and auctioned in New York for a fundraiser supporting education initiatives. Private collectors in Dubai and Athens have also commissioned her pieces, further solidifying her presence in the contemporary art scene.
Looking ahead, she is in discussions with Zawyeh Gallery at Alserkal Avenue to showcase works from her Palestine series. Additionally, she is collaborating with Mouna Abdelhamid, Executive Director of Alif Institute in Atlanta, to organize a touring exhibition across the U.S., with potential stops in Georgia, Michigan, Washington D.C., and Connecticut.
152.5×122 cm
For the past sixteen months, her unwavering focus has been on developing a cohesive body of work that tells a larger, uninterrupted story. Rather than presenting fragmented pieces, she is determined to complete the series in its entirety, ensuring that its message remains powerful and unified. Through every brushstroke, she continues to bear witness, forging connections that remind us all: no one is truly free unless we are all free.
Follow the artist on Instagram – mahazeibak.
Asareh Ebrahimpour
As a multidisciplinary artist from Iran, currently based in Dubai, UAE, her work delves into the human psyche, culture, and nature—deeply shaped by a personal journey through identity crises caused by frequent childhood relocations. Grappling with feelings of detachment and a constant search for belonging, she seeks equilibrium through artistic expression.
Her creative process is inspired by the complexities of human consciousness and the subtle, often conflicting forces of cultural influence. Through this lens, she explores paradoxes and dualities that define existence. Nature serves as a rich contextual backdrop, offering symbolic resonance and depth to her artistic language.
With a diverse academic background spanning Interior Design, Mathematics, Physics, and Expressive Art Therapy, she integrates a variety of mediums to communicate an intimate inner narrative. The body itself becomes a canvas through which she merges physical presence with metaphysical exploration in ritualistic artistic practices.
Each work is a chapter in her ongoing process of self-discovery and healing, inviting the viewer to embark on their own introspective journey. By bridging the visible and the invisible, the known and the unknowable, her art encourages contemplation of the intricate layers of human life and the universal longing for identity and belonging.
As a curator, Asareh is dedicated to fostering raw, authentic, artistic expressions that go beyond trends. She curated Self-Purification, a performance by Korean calligrapher and researcher Doyim Kim, which explored the intersections of modern and traditional Korean calligraphy with movement-based purification rituals.
She also initiated and curated Hear Me from My Eyes, a thought-provoking exhibition launched on International Women’s Day. This project critically questioned why art by women is often generalized rather than used as a mirror to reflect on internalized patriarchy. Instead of following mainstream narratives, she encouraged a deeper exploration of personal, often unspoken stories.
The exhibition was not merely a showcase but an intensive process—beginning with an open call and followed by a 10-15 hour curatorial course for each participating artist. Through guided conversations, she helped artists uncover and articulate their most vulnerable and raw narratives, translating them into powerful artworks. This curatorial approach emphasized storytelling through art, pushing artists beyond their comfort zones to express truths that might otherwise remain unspoken.
For more information, please follow the artist on Instagram – _asareh.ebrahimpour_.
Fatma Lootah
A celebrated Emirati artist, Lootah explores the subtle tension between tradition and modernity in her work. By weaving cultural symbolism with evocative visual storytelling, she highlights the strength and resilience of women in the Gulf region. Her art forms a bridge between past and present, preserving heritage while engaging with contemporary issues. She reinterprets traditional motifs through a modern lens, offering new perspectives on identity and belonging.
Lootah’s work is marked by a graceful balance of reverence for cultural roots and a bold artistic voice. She raises important questions about the evolving role of women in society. Her unique style resonates both locally and internationally, earning recognition on the global art stage. Through her practice, Fatma Lootah inspires a new generation of female artists to express themselves and connect with their heritage. Each piece she creates invites reflection on the complexity of cultural continuity and transformation. Lootah’s art stands as a powerful testament to the layered experience of womanhood in the Arab world.
For more inforamtion, please visit https://lootahfatma.com/ and follow fatmalootah.
Sara Alkhayyal
Renowned for her bold and dynamic compositions, Alkhayyal is an artist whose work radiates a sense of liberation and transformation. In her series Elysian Awakening, she explores the resilience and inner strength of women as they confront personal and societal challenges. Her expressive use of color and form conveys emotion with striking intensity, drawing viewers into deeply personal narratives. Through her art, Alkhayyal offers a visual language for empowerment, healing, and self-discovery.
Each piece serves as a tribute to the evolving identities of women, capturing moments of vulnerability and triumph. Her work blurs the lines between reality and imagination, creating a dreamlike space where growth and freedom coexist. Alkhayyal’s practice is rooted in a profound commitment to storytelling and emotional truth. She invites her audience to witness not only transformation but also the beauty of the process itself. As her figures emerge from chaos into clarity, they reflect a collective journey of awakening. Alkhayyal stands as a powerful voice in contemporary art, celebrating feminine strength with grace and intensity.
For more information, please follow the artist on Instagram – saraalkhayyal.art.
Zumrud Zeynalli
Zumrud Zeynalli is a contemporary British artist originally from Baku, Azerbaijan. Her art uniquely blends Eastern and Western cultures, drawing inspiration from childhood fairy tales. Currently based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, she has traveled to 74 countries, experiences that have profoundly influenced her creative vision.
Zumrud holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and European Studies, a master’s in Business Administration, and a diploma in Cost Engineering. Despite leading a company in the male-dominated oil industry, she has nurtured her artistic passion through painting. Her artwork is characterized by vibrant colors, geometric patterns, and 3D illusions, often incorporating black-and-white chessboard motifs. She aims to evoke deep emotions, encouraging viewers to explore their inner selves. Her pieces often invite introspection, prompting audiences to confront feelings like love, fear, and sadness.
Zumrud’s art has been showcased in various exhibitions, including collaborations inspired by literature. She believes that art should make people feel something profound. Through her creations, she seeks to inspire self-love and emotional exploration. Her journey from Baku to Abu Dhabi reflects a fusion of diverse cultural experiences. Zumrud continues to challenge perceptions, blending reality with illusion in her work. Her commitment to artistic expression serves as a testament to her resilience and creativity.
For more information, please follow the artist on Instagram – zumrud_contemporary.
Zeinab Alhashemi
Zeinab Alhashemi is a prominent Emirati conceptual artist based in Dubai. She holds a BA in Arts and Science from Zayed University, where she specialized in Multimedia Design. Alhashemi is renowned for her large-scale, site-specific installations that explore the transformation of the UAE’s landscape due to rapid urbanization. Her work often juxtaposes geometric urban forms with organic elements from the natural environment, reflecting the coexistence of tradition and modernity in the UAE. By experimenting with materials like mesh metal and camel hides, she challenges viewers to reconsider their perceptions of space and reality.
Alhashemi’s installations have been featured in numerous international exhibitions, including the Sharjah Biennial and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. She has also participated in art fairs such as Sikka Art Fair and Dubai Design Week. Her project “Camoulflage” was showcased at Desert X AlUla in 2022, highlighting her engagement with environmental themes. Alhashemi’s work often addresses the tension between the natural and artificial, prompting discussions about sustainability and cultural identity. She has been recognized for her innovative approach to public art and has completed commissions for various institutions in the Gulf region.
In 2018, she was an artist-in-residence at the SETI Institute in San Francisco, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between art and science. Alhashemi continues to push boundaries in contemporary art, using her installations to engage audiences in meaningful dialogue. Her practice reflects a deep understanding of the UAE’s evolving cultural landscape and the complexities of modernization. Through her art, she invites viewers to contemplate the interplay between heritage and progress. Alhashemi remains a significant figure in the Middle Eastern art scene, contributing to its dynamic and diverse narratives.
For more information, please follow the artist on Instagram – zalhashemi.
