Emirati Artist

Al Jabri is an Emirati artist, born in 1967 in Abu Dhabi. She received her BA in Media Geography from Al Ain University in 1986, in addition to a Diploma in Management from Abu Dhabi University.

She began her artistic career in 1985, where she was selected for her talent as an art teacher and was later appointed as the Head of Al Marsam Al Hor at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi.

Al Jabri participated in many group and solo exhibitions, including Emirati Expressions (Abu Dhabi, 2009), Stations, a solo exhibition (2010), as well as in Zayed and Our Immortal Heritage at Zayed Centre for Studies and Research at the Emirates Heritage Club (Abu Dhabi, 2010).

She has participated in several forums in Belgium, China, Morocco, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, and the United Kingdom.

Throughout her career, Al Jabri has received numerous awards, including the Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award in 2010.

Al Jabri is one of the first founders of the Emirati art scene, especially in Abu Dhabi. She has made significant contributions throughout her career, organising art workshops for people of determination, as well as events, projects, exhibitions, and gatherings in the Gulf States, the Arab world, and other parts of the world.

Iraqi Artist

Ali Al Mimar is an Iraqi artist who was born in Baghdad in 1965. He started his artistic journey by enrolling at the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad, where he graduated with distinction in 1985 from the Department of Painting. That same year, he was awarded the late Faik Hassan Gold Medal for Painting at the Youth Festival in Baghdad, which was a significant event in his journey towards his dream.

Al Mimar debuted his first solo exhibition in Baghdad in 1985, which paved the way for numerous exhibitions in the following years, including exhibitions at Alia Gallery in Jordan (1992) and Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel in Qatar (1995). His artistry also reached international audiences through exhibitions in France, London, and the USA, with notable participation in the Arabian Horse Exhibition at the London Museum in the UK in 2004.

From 2000 to 2011, Al Mimar worked as a supervisor of plastic arts at the university studio at the University of Sharjah, where he founded the first university studio for students. One of his most notable achievements was winning first place in the 2007 Most Beautiful Equestrian Art Painting Competition.

In addition to these accomplishments, Al Mimar is a member of several international art associations and organizations, including the International Association of Fine Arts and the Iraqi Plastic Artists Association

Moroccan Artist

Ibtissam Abouinane is a visual artist from Morocco. She was born in Casablanca in 1963 and graduated with honours from the Casablanca Art School in 1986, where she studied under some of the greatest international artists in Europe and learned the principles of fine art.

Abouinane is distinguished by her distinctive painting style that intricately weaves together realism and abstraction, with horses being a central motif in her works.

Her extensive travels across various countries throughout her career have significantly influenced the trajectory of her professional life in the realm of arts. This experience culminated in the creation of artistic masterpieces that have received international acclaim, leading to her participation in prestigious exhibitions in France, Germany, Greece, Canada, Italy, the UAE, and other countries. These experiences have enriched her artistic expertise and experiences.

Ibtissam showcased her works in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Morocco and abroad, including the Rainbow Horses Exhibition at the Arab Cultural Club in Sharjah.

She is currently the President of the Zervas Art Club in Abu Dhabi and Morocco, affiliated with the World Federation of Zervas Art Clubs. She regularly takes part in international horse, hunting, and equestrian exhibitions in Morocco, the UAE, and across the world.
Ibtissam epitomises a distinctive figure among her cohort of equestrian artists. Her career stands as a testament to her enduring love for horses, a passion that has been a constant companion throughout her life. Through her art, she aims to capture the beauty of horses, their personality, and the intricacies of their movements. She sees horses as a symbol of goodness, optimism, and purity of soul. She also considers them a source of inspiration and philosophy in life.

He is an Emirati activist, author, collector, businessman, Founder and CEO of Barjeel Art Foundation.

He is also a journalist who writes about regional politics, social issues, and economics. He contributes opinion pieces to “Emarat Al Youm”, “New York Times”, “Financial Times”, “Foreign Policy”, “Open Democracy”, “The Independent”, “The Guardian”, and “Gulf News”.

Al Qassemi earned a bachelor's degree in international business administration from the American University of Paris in 1998, as well as a master's degree in global finance and banking from the European Business School in London, where he graduated with distinction in 2004.

He is active in youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, having previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Young Arab Leaders Foundation's UAE branch for 3 years.

Forbes Middle East magazine named him first on its list of the "100 Most Prominent Arabic Personalities on Twitter”. He also received the Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence in 2006 and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Award in 2012, and "Arabian Business" named him one of the "500 Most Powerful Arabs" in the same year.

In 2008, Al Qasimi began teaching at a number of local and international universities, such as the Technical College in Dubai, the MIT Media Lab, Brandeis University in the United States, the American University in Paris, Boston College, Georgetown University, Yale University, and Bard in Berlin. Furthermore, he recently began teaching a course on the politics of contemporary Middle Eastern art in the Department of International Studies of the American University of Sharjah's College of Arts and Sciences in the spring semester of 2024.