al markhiya gallery is proud to present this exhibition showcasing two celebrated Qatari Artists. Abeer Al Kuwari and May Almannai.

Abeer Al Kuwari is a self-taught, Qatari artist based in Doha.  She employs various disciplines, including photography, painting, and sculpture in her practice. Drawing from a strong history of women artists, Al Kuwari’s compositions present a contemporary viewpoint, centering on themes of identity, folklore, and heritage.

Kuwari’s film portraits have been featured in various exhibitions and awarded her the Saoud Al Thani Award for Photography in 2004.  In her new compositions she portrays the people of Qatar and its culture through an abstracted lens that raises questions dealing with beauty and identity in the face of modernity.  By reimagining these stories, Al Kuwari was not only recalling memories from her youth, but also by reinterpreting the infamous characters in her own unique style she shared the rich and spirited heritage of storytelling in her country as an inspiration for the next generation of young Qataris.

May Al Mannai is a Qatari based visual artist and illustrator. A self-taught artist Al Mannai works mainly in mixed media, creating a combination of digital and traditional painting. She has been experimenting in Handcrafted watercolors ,using historical and modern pigments to create the layers and gradations.  Al Mannai focuses on creating bold colorful surreal characters and environments through patterns and painted textures.

“The belief that every person was created with a purpose in life is the same force that drives my artistic practice and desire to create. Through my artwork I  communicate with the universe / the wider world. My main aim is to show my particular point of view, calling attention to the beautiful details around us.”