“Colors were her tools, and her heart was the brush with which she drew the features of her life and built her distinctive artistic personality.”
A Heart Shaped by Love and Artistic Expression
From an early age, Valia Abou Alfadel was immersed in an atmosphere of love—an emotion that would come to define both her life and her art. Growing up in a nurturing community surrounded by breathtaking mountainous landscapes, she found herself deeply connected to the beauty of the world. This love extended into every facet of her life, shaping her perceptions and interactions with the world around her. Even in small, everyday details—such as arranging her school notebooks, curating her wardrobe, or even composing a visually harmonious plate of food—she exhibited an intuitive sense of color and balance. These early inclinations were not mere habits but the first manifestations of an artistic spirit that would later flourish into a lifelong passion.
Art became more than a discipline for her; it was a natural extension of her being, an entity woven into her very existence. Over the years, through experiences both painful and joyful, she continued to embrace and express love in all its forms. She sees art as a universal language that unites humanity, bridging gaps between people, nature, and the cosmos. For her, recognizing art is synonymous with recognizing beauty, and beauty itself is a pathway to understanding love. This philosophy is best encapsulated in a phrase she often repeats, which she considers her guiding principle: “Art is the language of the world and all that is in it—humans, earth, and sky. Whoever recognizes art recognizes beauty. Whoever recognizes beauty recognizes love. Whoever recognizes love recognizes God and humanity.”
Her artistic journey began not from a place of conventional inspiration but from an emotional necessity. The profound sorrow of losing her mother at a young age instilled in her an acute awareness of loss, a theme that would later resonate through her work. She sought solace in bringing happiness to others, finding that giving—whether through art, kindness, or emotional support—became a source of inner equilibrium. Creativity, for her, is deeply intertwined with generosity. Watercolor became her chosen medium, as its fluidity and luminosity echoed her belief in art’s ability to heal and uplift. Just as water adapts to its surroundings, merging and flowing seamlessly, so too did she mold her artistic identity—one defined by resilience, love, and an enduring connection to life’s ever-changing emotions.
Valia Abou Alfadel: A Multifaceted Artistic Career
Valia Abou Alfadel’s contributions to the art world extend beyond her personal creative practice; she has played a vital role in shaping visual narratives across media, cultural, and governmental institutions. A graduate of the High Institute of Fine Arts, she is a recognized member of the Union of Plastic Artists in Syria and holds the prestigious Golden Residency from Dubai Culture and Art Authority. Her expertise spans multiple disciplines, including watercolor, digital art, and editorial design, making her a dynamic force within the artistic and design communities.
With over two decades of experience in the UAE, she has served as an Art Director in esteemed organizations such as Dubai Sports Council, General Authority of Sports, and Abu Dhabi Media. Her artistic contributions are not confined to gallery spaces; they extend into press illustrations, graphic design, and expressive paintings that have graced major publications. Her ability to translate complex themes into visually compelling works has made her an influential figure in the industry.
Her artistic reach extends globally, with her work featured in prestigious exhibitions such as the Venice Biennale, Art on Loop Paris, and World Art Dubai. Institutions and embassies across Syria and the UAE house her pieces, solidifying her presence on an international scale. Beyond creating, she is also dedicated to sharing her knowledge, conducting workshops at institutions like the University of Sharjah and Dubai Creek Harbour by EMAAR. Recognized among the Top 20 International Artists by IWS Latin America, she has received multiple awards, including First Place at Tribute to Zayed the Nation’s Pride and the Life & Happiness International Fine Art Competition. Through her artistic journey, she continues to advocate for the transformative power of love and beauty, believing they are the universal forces that shape both art and humanity.
The Feminine Essence and the Language of Symbols
Valia Abou Alfadel’s artistic style is deeply rooted in personal experiences and emotional landscapes. She does not merely depict subjects; she embodies them, translating emotions into colors, compositions, and forms that resonate with profound meaning. Her approach is shaped by a sensitivity to the human experience, particularly the intricate and powerful role of women throughout history. Her artistic identity is intertwined with the feminine form, which she reveres as a divine force—one that has carried the weight of creation, beauty, and resilience since the dawn of time.
For her, women are more than subjects; they are vessels of life, bearers of divine responsibility, and eternal muses of beauty and wisdom. She perceives the female figure as a symbol of strength and grace, a bridge between the earthly and the spiritual. This belief is woven into her work, where women often emerge as central figures, embodying emotions that range from sorrow to joy, vulnerability to power. Her brushwork captures not just physical form but the unseen essence—the silent stories carried in a glance, the resilience held within a gesture.
Symbolism plays a crucial role in her artistic language, often revealing itself in ways even she does not consciously plan. One such recurring symbol is the apple, which appears frequently in her paintings, sometimes unintentionally. This motif holds both personal and universal significance. Drawn from lived memories—days spent in apple orchards, the communal spirit of harvest, and the warmth of shared moments beneath the trees—the apple carries deep emotional resonance. Beyond its personal associations, it serves as a timeless emblem, evoking the story of Adam and Eve and the origins of human experience. This interplay between personal memory and universal narrative adds layers of depth to her work, allowing viewers to find their own connections within her art.
Valia Abou Alfadel: The Creative Process and Artistic Influences
For Valia, the process of creation is deeply immersive, requiring a space that fosters both introspection and inspiration. Tranquility and privacy are essential in her workspace, allowing her to enter a state of flow where thoughts and emotions translate seamlessly onto canvas. Music plays a crucial role in this process, serving as a bridge between the external world and her inner self. She views music as a language of beauty, capable of carrying emotions in a way that transcends words. The melodies guide her brushstrokes, setting the rhythm of her artistic expression and infusing her work with an almost lyrical quality.
Her artistic influences stem not only from personal experiences but also from the legacies of great masters. She draws inspiration from Van Gogh’s emotional intensity, Monet’s exploration of light, Picasso’s reinvention of form, Rembrandt’s mastery of chiaroscuro, and Da Vinci’s profound understanding of the human condition. However, she does not seek to replicate their techniques; rather, she absorbs their perspectives, understanding how they viewed and translated the world onto canvas. Their relentless pursuit of beauty and meaning mirrors her own artistic journey, where each stroke is an exploration of truth, love, and existence.
Beyond her current body of work, she harbors a dream—to create a project that embodies her deepest artistic philosophy. She envisions an endeavor that transcends conventional artistic expression, one that allows her to share truth, happiness, and beauty with a global audience. For her, art is not merely about self-expression; it is about connection, about offering a part of oneself to the world. While words may sometimes fail, colors never do. Those who look at her work with sincerity and an open heart will always understand the silent poetry she paints—a language beyond words, spoken through the harmony of color and form.
