Zaina Dabous: Kuwait is part of my artistic journey

Lebanese-Canadian visual artist and head of the Fine Arts Department at the Loya Academy of Performing Arts, “Al-Ba,” Zina Dabbous, affirmed that Kuwait is no longer just a stop on her journey, but has become an essential part of her artistic and human experience. She noted that she has several works and projects, including murals and an artistic collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, alongside the exhibition of her works at the Kuwait Museum of Modern Art.

While maintaining her artistic presence in Kuwait, Dabbous is preparing to participate in a new art exhibition in Paris next October. Her works have also been selected for publication in the international art book, The Art World Book Guide, scheduled for release at the end of the year.

She pointed out that 2026 will feature her participation in exhibitions in New York, London, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Japan, Portugal, Florence, and Lisbon, emphasizing that each destination offers her a new opportunity for experimentation, learning, and dialogue with diverse experiences and cultures.

Dabbous’s artistic practice is characterized by diversity and a refusal to adhere to a single style, moving between painting, photography, multimedia, and murals. She addresses themes of identity, memory, resilience, and women, drawing on her multicultural background.

At “Al-Ba,” Dabbous combines her roles as an artist who continues to research and experiment, and as an instructor who shares her expertise with students. She stresses the importance of translating international artistic experiences into knowledge that benefits the new generation, particularly through programs and workshops that connect education with real-world practice. Her experience with children, through the Art Kids Academy program, highlights her view that art is not merely about teaching drawing and colors, but rather a space that helps children discover their imagination, build their personalities, and develop their expressive abilities.