Leena Al Ayoobi
Leena Al Ayoobi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 26, 1981 Manama |
| Nationality | Bahraini |
| Citizenship | Bahrain |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Organization | Dar Alfann Gallery |
| Height | 155 cm (5 ft 1 in) |
| Website | leenaalayoobi |
Leena Al Ayoobi (born 26 March 1981) is a Bahraini self-taught artist, founder of the Dar Alfann Gallery.[1] She is widely recognized for her feminist art pieces, which combine the Japanese Manga art style with Arabic folklore.[2] Al Ayoobi's brilliant and colorful, strongly textured paintings have received acclaim as a depiction of modern women in conventional society.[3]
Throughout her career, Al Ayoobi has collaborated with several prolific brands including Starbucks, Mont Blanc, GE Aviation, CFM, and the Standard Chartered Bank.[4] Her work has been displayed throughout the Middle East, and she is widely regarded as a leading figure in contemporary world art.[5][6]
Early life and education
Al Ayoobi was born on 26 March 1981 in Manama. She began drawing when she was three years old and soon took a liking to Japanese Anime and works of the director Hayao Miyazaki. Later, upon graduating from high school, she enrolled in the University of Bahrain, from where she acquired a diploma in Business Management.
In 2015, Al Ayoobi attended a Painting and Drawing Workshop by Accademia Riaci in Florence, Italy. In 2017, she pursued a diploma in History of Art at the London Art College, and soon after its completion, Al Ayoobi applied for another diploma in Watercolor Painting.[7]
Career
Prior to becoming a full-time artist, Al Ayoobi worked at global consultancy firms as an investment analyst at Ernst & Young for nine years and at BDO for five.[8]
It was not until 2014 that Al Ayoobi began displaying her art pieces on a larger scale.[9] Her first exhibition took place in Bahrain's Art Market called Bab Al Bahrain, which was hosted by Sheikha Mai Al Khalifa from the Ministry of Culture. Soon, Al Ayoobi became a full-time artist, concentrating on expressing her feminist perspective through her vibrant and highly demonstrative pieces.[10] Her first solo exhibition was held in 2017 during Art Dubai.[11]
Select exhibitions and commissioned artwork
| S. No. | Year | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibitions | |||
| 1 | 2014 | BiCE - Bahrain World Trade Center-Solo exhibition | Bahrain |
| 2 | 2015 | Malja Annual Art Exhibition | Bahrain |
| 3 | 2016 | (Big Eyes) conducting of art basics course-My Training institute - Oman | Oman |
| 4 | 2017 | Emirates Writers Union Exhibition | Dubai |
| 5 | 2018 | Bahrain Day art exhibition at the Seven Hills International Film Festival | Baja, Hungary |
| 6 | 2019 | “Sahayb” group exhibition organized by gallery015 & Harvey Nichols, KSA | Riyadh |
| 7 | 2020 | Arab Artist Union virtual art gallery | Saudi Arabia |
| 8 | 2021 | Group art show – Access Art Gallery – Cairo | Egypt |
| Commissioned Artworks | |||
| 9 | 2016 | Artwork for a novel by the Emirati writer Lamees Bin Hafith | UAE |
| 10 | 2016 | Artwork for a folk story novel by the Qatari writer Hamad Al Tamini | Qatar |
| 11 | 2019 | Home Center group for customized GCC themed home accessories and furniture | GCC |
Select paintings
- Reflections
- Sisters
- Sea of Dreams
- Blue Nashil
- Zainab
- Fish Eye
- Mass Wedding “Blue”
- Mashmoom
- City Talk
- Lilac
- Colors within me
Personal life
Ayoobi is married to Abdulrahman Almokla, who is a businessman. The couple has three children named Adam, who is 12 years old, Firas, who is 3 years old, and Fatin, who is 2 years old. Ayoobi is fluent in Arabic and English.[12]
In the media
References
- ↑ "Leena Al Ayoobi – The Bahraini artist recreating the image of women in the Gulf". Pink Jinn. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ Creatives, Celebrating Emerging Middle Eastern (1 June 2017). "Leena Al Ayoobi, fusing Arabian folk art and childhood memories of Japanese Manga". Reconnecting Arts. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ "Bahraini artist mixes local folklore with Japanese manga – Bahrain News Gazette". www.bahrainnewsgazette.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ "Al Faraj Gallery". alfarajgallery.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ "Leena Al Ayoobi - Game1News". game1news.com. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ Network, DT News. "Bahraini to showcase art works in Dubai | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN". DT News. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ "Top calendar features Bahraini artist's work". gdnonline. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ "FROM FINANCE TO FINE ART". FROM FINANCE TO FINE ART. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ "BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL FOLKSY DESIGNS : Gulf Weekly Online". www.gulfweekly.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ "Bahraini artist features in international 2020 calendar | THEAsiaN". theasian.asia. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ "Leena Al Ayoobi on Producing Trailblazing Arab Art". bouticmagazine.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ↑ "Big Eyes". Bahrain Confidential. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2022.