Mariam Alzaabi - Art Portfolio

Portfolio;

The artist;

Maryam Alzaabi is an Emirati graduate of Architecture and Urban Design with a background in art and illustration. With a passion for design, art and everything in between, Maryam spends most of her days drawing and creating with her hands with any tools or materials she’s inspired by. Maryam is an architect and urban designer as well as a designer and illustrator. Her media of choice ranges from watercolors, inks to digital drawing, graphic design and collage work. She draws inspiration from the diverse cultures she’s surrounded by as well as music, pop culture, fashion, comic books, and architecture. By constantly experimenting with new, different elements to incorporate in her work, Maryam loves refining her artwork and continues to develop her style as an artist and an illustrator. She who focuses mainly on portrait illustrations and draws inspiration from her life and surrounding environment.

Maryam’s artwork evokes emotions that has been drawn from her experiences as well as reflecting on the traditions and cultures of the East and the West. She draws her inspiration in the unspoken curiosity of the world around her through her stylized work. Breaking the norms of what the traditional style of art that is and what represents modern day Emirati woman, both in herself and her artwork.

“I often find myself wondering about identity. Asking questions about individuality, aspirations, and the human purpose in order to understand my own actions and emotions. I’ve been trying to break down my own barriers in order to comprehend different feelings that I consider to be a part of my personal character. By closely examining external details and internal thoughts, I’ve been able to explore artistic concepts that highlight different aspects of what makes up a person or object’s individuality in an attempt to comprehend my own.”

Contents;

Collaboration with Adobe MAX conference 2021, helping to celebrate and showcase the creative community through their CoCreate: MAX initiative.

Over 40 global artists were selected and hired to showcase their artwork in their promotional campaign through all social media channels as well as inclusion of the artwork in the opening keynote.

Adobe MAX Conference - Campaign & Identity; Digital 2021

To celebrate Emirati Women’s Day, I’ve partnered up with to celebrate 2021’s theme of “Women: Ambitions & Inspiration for the Next 50 Years” which was announced by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union in early 2021.

The work created was a unique illustration to celebrate the proud achievements of Emirati women in history along with a storing vision for the future. It highlights women who have pushed boundaries by occupying varied roles in the country such as astronauts, teachers, chefs, government officials and female leaders.

The artwork has been translated onto limited edition tote bags which were given away with every order placed from Deliveroo Editions Kitchens during Emirati Womens Day 2021.

Deliveroo X Emirati Womens Day Campaign; Digital 2021

Netflix MENA - End of Year Wrap-up Campaign; Digital 2021

To celebrate some of the iconic and influential shows that were highly acclaimed in 2021, this Netflix MENA commission focused on 12 of their top shows to be illustrated for their end of year wrap-up campaign. These shows range from Korean hit series Squid Game, to Jordanian shows such as Al Rawabi School for Girls, and some Khaleeji talent like Takki, alongside some internationally acclaimed shows such as Emily in Paris, Casa De Papel, Lucifer and The Witcher. The ilustrations focused on representing the main character(s) of each of the shows.

The artwork has been shared on Netflix MENA’s social media platforms and channels to interact with the audience and viewers to see which shows were their personal favorite for 2021.

Commission by Expo 2020 Dubai for ‘Infinite Nights’ performances of A-list artists, the brief was to create a special piece of art to commemorate the spectacular show. The piece was gifted to Alicia Keys to commemorate her once-in-a-lifetime performance at Expo 2020 as part of Infinite Nights in a positive, elegant, imaginative interpretation.

Commission by Expo 2020 Dubai for ‘Infinite Nights’ performances, the brief was to create a special piece of art to showcase their urban and upbeat style of music and fashion, as well as their unique lightshow performance at Al Wasl dome, the heart of Expo. The piece was gifted to each member of the Black Eyed Peas to commemorate their once-in-a-lifetime performance.

Expo 2020 - Infinite Nights Illustrations; Alicia Keys Digital 2021

Expo 2020 - Infinite Nights Illustrations; Black Eyed Peas Digital 2022

Concept Sketches Final Artwork

Concept Sketches Final Artwork

Digital Quarantine;

240cmx260cm Ink

2020

This artwork was created during the initial lockdown during the peaking of COVID-19. During the restrictions of the lockdown, only essential and urgent trips were allowed. The desire to create a piece beyond the frame of a piece of paper or a screen lead to thinking beyond traditional materials.

With the use of old bedsheets as canvas, the material is a reflection of how self-isolation truly has affected the mental and physical well-being of many during this global crisis. The disconnect to the world and the shift to the virtual has lead to the piece being created while being constantly on video calls with family and friends. Programs like Zoom has become such an essential part of our daily lives as our single source of communication to people who we cant physically be next to or with.

It felt like the world started to solely exist not just in a realm of physical quarantine but a digital one as well. It skewed the collective perception of time and reality.

Watch me here; https://vimeo.com/471074877

Overwatch - D.Va; Watercolor, A4

Overwatch - Mercy; Watercolor, A4 2017

Self-who?

Ink 2014

This self portrait is a reflection of personal struggle with a dark time of grieving in my life. The way in which the manifestation of these conditions can be physically frustrating and may sometimes feel like beyond anything within control. The colors and method of splatter in abundance and in a chaotic manner is reflective of the inner struggle of how one’s mental health can sometimes take over beyond what a person can contain on their own.

Not yours; Digital (Photoshop)

2016

Sal(vation); Digital (Photoshop)

2016

“Because I truly believe with my whole heart, mind and body that girls constitute a revolutionary soul force that can, and will, change the world for real”

Not your gal

Digital (Photoshop)

2018

No rest - resist; Digital (Photoshop) 2019

This series of drawings were inspired by feminist figures advocate for equality and women’s rights using their online social media platforms, where they are often perceived as angry women. However, their resistance and empowerment for one another to have their voices heard and magnified continues to push them to fight through the backlash.

Skin & Bones

Collages/mixed media

This series of hand cut collages was inspired by my fascination of scientific anatomy illustrations and the contrast and similarities that is found in nature and within humans. The way in which the pieces come together in the physical and conceptual sense represents how they exist in nature and in surrealism.

Museum of the future; Digital (Photoshop/procreate) 2022

These series of drawings were inspired by the grand opening of the Dubai Museum of the Future, the calligraphy texts on the Dubai Museum of the Future are multiple quotes from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates that says: We might not live for hundreds of years, but the products of our creativity can leave a legacy long after we are gone. The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it and execute it.

Academic Project, 2014

Walking around Milan, Italy, the industrial elements of the city and the amount of construction work is two things instantly noticed. They bring the city’s distinct features and combine the industrial and modern into creating a unique aesthetic towards the city itself. This conceptual project looks at embracing the industrial nature of the city and creating a merge between the industrial and modern within the heart of the city. By using a glass structure aesthetic, this proposal of a museum of construction and laboratory space for manufacturers to use as a factor and designers to showcase their work created by using the materials created in this factory.

Casa Del Laboratorio e la Macchina; Digital (Rhino 3D, Photoshop)

Eastern Link;

Digital (Rhino 3D, Autocad, Photoshop)

Eastern Link, was a collaborative submission to the ULI Hines competition that won 2nd place in the finalist for the year 2018. This project proposal is conceptualizing Toronto’s newest cultural connection. It’s a neighborhood fueled by Toronto’s economic engines of downtown and East Harbour. This location makes Eastern Link uniquely positioned to become a cultural centre and a local-serving mixed-use development. With its emphasis on both culture and daily life, Eastern Link is a neighborhood that is iconic but also intimate with a variety of building typologies that are accessible in each phase. To stitch these neighborhoods together and take advantage of the real estate value unlocked by the relocated transit station.

LinkTHE

10:30

A series of posters & social media graphics created for Georgia Tech International Ambassadors events that hosted to share the cultural exchange and international student experience series of events held to celebrate diversity on the Georgia Tech campus.

This booklet was part of a visual research paper and study that focused on raising questions to try and define how the influence of such gentrification of urban spaces have led to the trans formation of neighborhoods and why they’ve become the new places we’re attracted to.

Hipster Urbanism;