Elysian Awakening serves as a powerful homage to the feminine spirit, bringing together an inspiring ensemble of artists whose works challenge conventional narratives and amplify women’s voices. From vibrant, abstract interpretations of the female form to intimate explorations of identity and cultural heritage, each artist offers a unique perspective on themes of gender, empowerment, and expression.
Fatma Lootah
Fatma Lootah is an exceptional name in the art world and is described as one of the most important UAE cultural and art ambassadors all over the world.
Born and raised in Dubai, Fatma studied at the Art Academy of Baghdad and later moved to Washington D.C. to further her art education.
Despite living in Verona (Italy) since the 80’s, she regularly comes back to Dubai where she has her own studio – House 35 in the Al Fahidi historical neighborhood. The house was gifted to her in 2010 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum after he visited one of her solo exhibitions and decided that she should have a personal space where she can create her own art in Dubai.
Mix tec on canvas, 2024
150 х 150 cm
Her career includes performance art experience but nowadays she prefers to concentrate in abstract art and installations: she exhibited in Italy, France, UAE, Austria, Morocco and USA (where her art was also shown in Times Square in New York together with the project Nasdaq Artist in Residence) and in many other important countries across the world.
She also appeared in many famous magazines such as Marie Claire Arabia, Vogue Arabia, and The National View and she has been hosted by many tv shows.
Barbara Duran
Born in Rome into a cosmopolitan family, Barbara Duran is a contemporary artist, painter, and video maker whose work captivates audiences worldwide. Since the early 1990s, she has been a prominent figure in the art scene, participating in numerous group and solo exhibitions across Italy and internationally. Her creations are cherished in private and public collections in Italy, Latin America, the United States, France, Russia, Greece, and beyond.
Her art is a mesmerizing journey through the alchemical transition from darkness to light. She masterfully seeks out the splendor that emerges from the shadows, guiding viewers on a path of sublimation from matter to spirit. Her paintings are a testament to the ancient and timeless tools of her craft. In her most recent series, she has achieved a remarkable synthesis of technique and concept, refining her style and artistic vision to new heights.
Beyond her personal artistic endeavors, she is the driving force behind Studio Urbana, a cultural space she founded in the heart of Rome in 2007. As the artistic director, she has cultivated a vibrant community dedicated to the appreciation and creation of art.
Barbara Duran’s work is not just a visual experience but an invitation to explore the profound depths of transformation and illumination. Her art continues to inspire and enchant, leaving an indelible mark on all who encounter it.
Sara Alkhayyal
Sara is an Emirati Graphic Designer and Artist based in Sharjah, her work focuses on exploring and documenting Emirati culture through various mediums such as fabric design, publications and installations. She explores the boundaries of design and creates her own principles of design that result in a distinctive outcome.
Mixee Media, 2025
Graduated from Zayed University from the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises with a BFA majoring in Graphic Design in 2022. Her works focus on bringing the history of the UAE to light in her own narrative, through pattern design and unconventional design approaches that leaves her viewers learning about the topic at hand.
Zeina Abdullah
Zeina is an Egyptian artist born in 2001 and based in the UAE. She earned a Fine Arts degree from the University of Sharjah in 2024. Her artistic practice focuses on ceramics as her primary medium, exploring themes of loss, memory, and trauma. Through her work, she delves into how complex emotions can be visually represented and processed. Her art is deeply influenced by the rich cultural and historical context of the UAE, aiming to create spaces for reflection and emotional healing.
mixed media – ceramic 2024
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Zeina is currently studying CACHE Level 3 with the goal of becoming an art teacher for children. She is passionate about inspiring young minds to view art as a tool for emotional expression, resilience, and creativity. Zeina believes art can empower children to explore their own stories, connect with others, and develop a strong sense of self and empathy.
Natalie Katwal
Natalie Katwal was born and raised in Veliky Ustyug—a city-museum where every corner is filled with history and traditions. As a child, she traveled extensively through the Russian North with her family, exploring its customs and beauty on a yacht designed and built by her father. Her mother instilled in Natalie a love for nature and the ability to see beauty in ordinary things, teaching her the poetry of existence.
After graduating from art school, at 17, Natalie held her first solo exhibition at a private gallery in St. Petersburg. This was a significant step in her development as an artist, but her desire to broaden her horizons and explore other fields led her to the St. Petersburg University of Technology and Design, where she studied design. After university, Natalie dedicated herself to a career in the fashion industry and established her own successful business—couture atelier Atelier Natalie Katwal.
AUTHOR’S STONE MASS, 2025
65 × 65 × 70 cm
Natalie’s passion for art never waned, and over time, she realized that art was her true calling. She decided to close her business to focus on working with sculpture. Since 2023, she has been creating objects primarily from stone mass and porcelain, with plans to explore new materials and return to textiles with a fresh perspective.
Valeria Isyak
Valeria Isyak a ceramic artist born in Ukraine. She has pursued her arts education in both Ukraine and Russia. Ceramics is her main creative medium, and she extensively explore its’ possibilities in sculpture and painting.
Her favorite artistic style is creating ceramic wall art panels. These panels serve as reflection of her personal contemplations on various subjects. Panels are composed of thousands of delicate porcelain petals meticulously arranged to form a cohesive and captivating picture. Her creations symbolize union of fragility and integrity.
From a young age, her sole passion revolved around drawing and painting. As a child, she found immense joy in drawing, and her artistic journey began with attending arts school, followed by college and university. However, during the final years of her university studies, I took a bold step and ventured into a completely new artistic direction — mosaic.
Work with mosaic art opened new horizons for her. She had an incredible opportunity to contribute to the interior decoration of the Church of St. Sava in Serbia. This experience provided her with invaluable knowledge and skills, enriching her artistic repertoire.
For more information, please visit https://rararesgallery.com/.
