Emirati Artist Mona Al Khaja studied art back in 1999 at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo, where she developed a natural talent for oil and acrylic painting. Since then, the mother of 6 and grandmother of 4 has transitioned her style from realist to abstract as a way to continue expanding her journey as an artiste. Her pieces are studded with Middle-Eastern motifs and Islamic patterns, and can be distinguished by her signature use of bold colors. Balancing her time as a full- time artist,wife,mother and a grand-mother in residence has been challenging for Mona, but she hopes that her work will be appreciated by art lovers and inspire other Emirati women to pursue their passions and creativity.\n\nBelow, a message from the artist herself:\n“Painting is my world, a place where I can freely swim with my thoughts and exercise my ability to describe the world as I desire. I arrange it according to my imagination, returning to thoughts, places and themes that can only be expressed by standing before them, absorbing the picture and allowing the story to come to life.\n\nIn my opinion, a good work of art consists of using time and space, depth and movement, shadow and light, to enrich the eyesight and provoke inner-thoughts. Personally, I am influenced by the changes in colour and form that take place in everything that surrounds me, from the change of seasons to the diversity of light in different regions. I observe how a blue sky turns to shades of night, how a light wind raises dust that disturbs a clear sky – giving it a yellow tinge that hides the contours of shadows on the floor.\n\nThere is no direct human form in my work, but its fingerprints are still present in my paintings. I often use decorative elements inspired by my local and Islamic heritage, such as nature, jewelry and clothing, as well as architectural symbols and motifs from buildings and various arabic symbols and words. These elements constantly enrich my ideas.\n\nI grab my brush and the ideas grapple inside m