Artists You Need to Have on Your Walls
Art has always been one of the easiest ways to bring life into a space and the Middle East and North Africa are home to some of the most exciting names to do just that. From playful, colourful pieces to trippy dreamscapes and striking modern works, these artists are shaping a scene that feels fresh, dynamic, and impossible to ignore.
What makes them so compelling is their individuality. Some experiment with bold abstraction, others lean into figurative storytelling, and plenty mix mediums in unexpected ways. The results are as varied as the region itself: fun, thought-provoking, and inspiring.
Each canvas, photograph, or print becomes an instant conversation starter and not to mention a reflection of some of the most talented creatives. Here are the names at the top of our list.
Known for his dynamic, large-scale canvases, Banisadr’s work feels like stepping into a storm of colour and form. His paintings, often influenced by his memories of Iran and his interest in history, literature, and sound, are frenetic yet masterfully controlled.
Etel Adnan
A true cultural icon, Adnan’s landscapes capture both vast horizons and intimate emotions. Working across poetry, painting, and tapestry, her vibrant blocks of colour reimagine the natural world with clarity and simplicity that feel timeless.
Fathi Mohamed Osman
A contemporary Sudanese artist, Osman’s work often blends modernity with nods to cultural heritage. His bold use of colour and form speaks to identity and the narratives of a younger, globally minded Sudan.
Haluk Akakçe
The late Turkish multimedia artist pushed boundaries by combining painting, digital imagery, and video installations. His work explored modern life, technology, and the way identity constantly shifts in a digitised world.
Born in Baghdad and now globally celebrated, Kahraman’s art often focuses on themes of displacement, migration, and womanhood. Her striking figures, inspired by both Renaissance painting and Persian miniatures, embody strength and vulnerability.
Ayari’s signature style is bold and stylised, often taking the form of abstracted botanicals. Her work flirts between figuration and abstraction, drawing viewers in with layers of metaphor and a sense of restrained drama.
One of the UAE’s female artists, Makki is a pioneer in Gulf modern art. Her vibrant canvases reflect both Emirati heritage and broader conversations around colour, form, and the female experience in art.
A Syrian painter best known for his monochromatic “Dream” series, Dahoul’s works are meditative, cinematic, and emotionally charged. Each piece feels like a suspended moment — full of longing, silence, and reflection.
Karimi brings poetry into painting, quite literally. His minimalist works often layer Persian verse over abstracted fields of colour, fusing literature and art in a way that feels deeply personal yet universally moving.
Nabil’s hand-coloured photography is instantly recognisable — a nostalgic nod to Egyptian cinema, personal memory, and identity. His portraits and self-portraits carry both glamour and melancholy, grounding his art in storytelling and emotion.
