At the Crossroads of Design, Art and Purposeful Imagery: Eight Dubai-based Creatives to Follow on Instagram
Dina Saadi @dinasaadi
This Russian-syrian artist, muralist and avid traveler blends her pop art influences, transcultural background and colorful palette into eye-catching urban artworks where bright tones and playful patterns intertwine in perfect harmony.
Jepren Solis @jeprensolis
Filipino graphic designer and photographer Jepren Solis takes his camera everywhere he goes with an aim to capture visually compelling spectacles, striking urban structures and subtle architectural elements, with a keen eye for clean composition and unconventional angles.
Fathima Mohluddin @fatspatrol
Indian-canadian artist Fathima Mohluddin uses Instagram as a platform to showcase her characterful street art pieces, which have landed her commercial collaborations with brands like Adidas and Red Bull. She is also founder of The Domino, a Dubai-based company that curates commercial art projects.
Maria Iqbal @maria5pop
Inspired by an eccentric blend of pop art, Japanese anime and Bollywood movies, Afgha-american art director Maria Iqbal transforms everything from clothing and accessories to furniture and walls into customized color explosions. She is often commissioned for art projects by renowned fashion houses and brands.
Dubai’s inherent multiculturalism and vibrant lifestyle are beautifully reflected in the work of its resident creatives. After sifting through a wide range of the latter’s Instagram accounts, we’ve pinned down a few arty standouts for you to check out, covering everything from sketching and calligraphy to digital art and photography. Time to discover which of these Dubai-based Instagrammers’ aesthetic speaks to you the most!
Stephanie Moukarzel @wanderwithstephanie
Currently based in Dubai, Moukarzel is all about capturing the moment through energetic imagery rather than focusing solely on a subject matter. Stylish and visionary, her Instagram posts capture a compelling cocktail of travel adventures, urban portraits and video content.
Wafa Hasher Maktoum @wafahm.art
Sheikha Wafa Hasher Maktoum is an artist, designer and art curator hailing from Dubai’s ruling family. Upon completion of her graphic design and fine art studies, she went on to found her own company FN designs. Her aesthetic is tailored around the use of geometric shapes and recurrent patterns.
Wissam Shawkat @wissamshawkat
Iraqi-born type designer Wissam Shawkat is renowned for creating a new calligraphic style dubbed Al Wissam, which references a number of traditional scripts and blends them with modern designs, thereby employing traditional tools to produce a distinctive contemporary aesthetic.
Mariam Abbas @mariamabbas
An exceptional Emirati visual artist and illustrator, Abbas specializes in creating minuscule sketches of traditional and pop culture elements using fine brushes, watercolor and tiny pencils. She is one of the very few modern-day artists who still practice the pointillism technique. Her stop-motion sketching videos are a must-watch!