Hailing from the small peninsula of Qatar, Shua’a Ali is an artist whose work is recognised for its expressive spontaneity. Shua’a’s exposure to the world from a very young age - having lived abroad in various cities in Asia, Africa, and Europe - has evidently influenced her artistic style to what it is today. While also being heavily inspired by the abstract expressionist art movement, this self-taught artist’s great interest in clashing colours and experimenting with vivid textures in an attempt to visualise imaginary places as well as her own personal experiences makes for an array of work that is striking as it is thought-provoking.

Shua’a graduated from the Richmond University of London in 1997, Computer Science degree. Her inspiration, which drove her self-teaching methods of painting are drawn from great abstract expressionist artists, such as Franz Kline and Joan Mitchell. She continues to be based in Doha where she is working on further developing her works and forming a greater connection with the canvas - enabling a space where she can recall the past, analyse the present, and imagine the future.

“I am lucky to have seen the world from a very young age. Somalia, Iraq, Austria, Tunisian and London are all cities that I am proud to have called home. My experiences in each of these places has not only shaped my world-view, but has also heavily influenced my artistic style. Creating my paintings has always been a kind of healing process for me - one in which I could reach a state of tranquility and dissolve all of creative expressions on to the canvas. However, as I grew older, I realized the importance of also using my artwork as a statement to the status quo -

IN THE STUDIO