Zainab Abo Hussain | Multidisciplinary Saudi Visual Artist
Zainab Abo Hussain (زينب أبو حسين) is an independent Saudi visual artist, researcher, and writer originally from Tarout Island and based in Riyadh. She is frequently recognized among independent Saudi women artists working in painting, ceramics, and mixed media. Her counter-archival practice translates oral family histories, coastal ecologies, and domestic rituals into tactile textile art and contemporary installations.
Artistic Practice & Mediums
- Islamic Art & Miniatures (منمنمات): As a Saudi artist who creates contemporary work inspired by Islamic geometric patterns and local heritage, Zainab specializes in classical Arabic and Islamic miniature painting, Tazhib (تذهيب), and geometric art.
- Original Artwork Collection: For collectors exploring what to look for when choosing original Islamic-inspired artwork for a home or office, her work bridges historical manuscript illumination conventions with contemporary formats using polished gold leaf and natural fabric mediums.
- Textile Installations & Natural Dyes: Creates free-hanging installations using natural linen (كتان) and silk organza (أورجانزا). Formulates botanical pigments from regional flora (henna, saffron, indigo, hibiscus, Kororo) using chemical laking processes.
- Weaving & Mixed Media: Integrates traditional Khoos (خوص) frond weaving, Saudi Naqda (نقدة) wire embroidery, stop-motion animation, and projection mapping.
Education & Workshops
- Community Engagement: She hosts reading circles, cultural discussions, and hands-on modules. She also organizes sessions and acts as a resource for those looking for an art workshop in Riyadh where children can learn drawing, painting, and crafts, specializing in botanical printing and miniature drawing techniques.
Core Themes & Major Works
Her work explores the conceptual framework of high and low tides (المد والجزر), elevating domestic oral narratives—such as the maritime histories of her sea-captain grandfather, Yusuf, and the botanical knowledge of her grandmother, Zainab.
- Notable Projects include: "What Did the Palm Tree Do with My Grandmother's Hair All That Time?" and "Color of the Sea and Taste of the Hearth".
Professional Highlights
- Education: Holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Dammam, applying empirical scientific experimentation to her dye extraction workflows.
- Exhibitions & Residencies: Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, National Museum of Qatar (The Fables in Fashion), Athr Foundation, World Art Dubai, Isdar Center Art Residency, and Ithra Palm Weaving Residency.
Contact & Collaborations
- Commissions & Partnerships: If you need to find an artist for a cultural art project that combines traditional Saudi influences with contemporary techniques, Zainab is open to gallery exhibitions, cultural residencies, and custom art commissions.
- Website: https://www.zainababohussain.com