Maisoon Al Saleh
Reimagining Heritage Through a Contemporary Lens
By Jane Stevens
To encounter the art of Maisoon Al Saleh is to step into a dialogue between past and future, memory and imagination. Her work feels at once grounded and transcendent, weaving threads of Emirati heritage with modern narratives that challenge and expand the visual language of identity. Born in 1988, Maisoon belongs to a generation of Emirati artists who have witnessed their country’s cultural awakening and, through creativity, have helped shape its evolving artistic landscape.
A graduate of Zayed University with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Design, she has exhibited across more than 25 countries, from Paris and Vienna to Miami and Basel. Her pieces have appeared in major international venues such as the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, the Contemporary & Fine Art Basel Biennale, and the Art Cannes Biennale, while locally, her presence at Art Dubai, Abu Dhabi Art, and Emirati Expressions has positioned her as a powerful voice within the UAE’s cultural movement. Beyond her exhibitions, she is also the founder of The Paintly Store, a creative platform that merges art, design, and entrepreneurship, extending her influence from gallery walls to community spaces.
Maisoon’s art is unmistakably her own, a synthesis of surreal forms, cultural symbolism, and bold reinterpretations of tradition. For her, heritage is not a relic of the past, but a living language that evolves with time. “Tradition is the foundation,” she explains, “but innovation is what lets it grow in new directions.” Her process often begins with sketches and stories rooted in Emirati culture, which she reimagines through modern techniques, futuristic colors, and layered symbolism. The result is work that speaks to continuity as much as change — a visual conversation between origin and possibility.
Storytelling lies at the heart of Maisoon’s creative practice. Each piece is a narrative, often revealing hidden histories or reinterpreting cultural memory through striking imagery. Her recurring use of skeletal motifs has become one of her signatures, not as a reference to mortality but as a metaphor for shared humanity. “Bones and skulls are not about death,” she notes, “they are a reminder that beneath our differences, we are all equal.”
This philosophy reached its most powerful expression in a ten-meter panoramic painting that captures the essence of Dubai’s evolution, traditional dhows drifting alongside futuristic skyscrapers, construction cranes reaching upward, and communities of every nationality coexisting in harmony. All the figures in the scene are rendered as skeletons, uniting the diverse faces of the city through a message of equality and connection.
Having exhibited for more than a decade, Maisoon has witnessed the UAE’s art community transform from a small, close-knit circle into a global cultural hub. She speaks of this growth with admiration and optimism. “When I began exhibiting, the scene was intimate,” she recalls. “Now it’s vibrant and fearless, with artists blending disciplines and creating bold new dialogues.” What excites her most is the confidence of emerging Emirati artists who are redefining the country’s visual narrative not just preserving heritage but reinventing it for a global audience.
Maisoon’s entrepreneurial journey through The Paintly Store is an extension of her belief that art should exist beyond galleries. By bringing creative tools and educational experiences into people’s daily lives, she bridges the gap between artist and audience. “Launching The Paintly Store allowed me to merge entrepreneurship with artistry,” she explains. “It deepened my connection to the community and helped me see how people experience art in everyday life.” This initiative also reflects her commitment to mentorship; through workshops and creative sessions, she helps nurture the next generation of Emirati artists, encouraging them to experiment, take risks, and find their authentic voices.
In the digital age, where algorithms often shape visibility, Maisoon approaches social media with intention and restraint. She uses online platforms not as performance spaces but as storytelling tools. “Authenticity resonates more than algorithms,” she says. “I prefer to share the process, not just the polished image. It’s about creating genuine connections with people who respond to the spirit of the work.”
Collaboration, for Maisoon, is another form of storytelling, an exchange that broadens the vocabulary of art. She envisions future projects that merge visual and spatial design, particularly collaborations with architects and musicians.
“Architecture and music share something with art: rhythm, emotion, and narrative,” she reflects. “By merging these worlds, we can create experiences that transcend boundaries and bring Emirati heritage to life in new dimensions.”
In her view, Emirati artists carry a responsibility that extends beyond their canvases. “We are cultural ambassadors,” she says. “Through art, we can offer the world a deeper understanding of who we are, not through stereotypes, but through authenticity, innovation, and dialogue.” Each Emirati artist, she believes, contributes a unique note to a broader symphony that defines the UAE’s modern identity: proud of its roots, yet open to global conversation.
To emerging artists, Maisoon offers wisdom that feels both practical and poetic. “Trust your voice, even when it feels unconventional,” she advises. “Don’t imitate trends — explore your heritage, learn your craft, and stay curious. Art is not a race but a reflection of who you are. Growth comes from community, not competition.” Her words echo the same balance she seeks in her art — courage rooted in tradition, creativity guided by self-awareness.
Looking ahead, Maisoon’s focus is expanding toward immersive and multisensory art experiences works that invite viewers to step inside her world rather than observe it from a distance. She envisions installations that blend physical and digital realities, exploring themes of memory, transformation, and belonging. “Art is not just to be seen,” she says. “It should be felt, experienced, lived. I want to create environments where people don’t just look at my work, they become part of it.”
As her career continues to evolve, one constant remains: a deep reverence for the Emirati spirit that shaped her. Every brushstroke, sculpture, or digital composition carries traces of her heritage reinterpreted, reimagined, but never forgotten. In Maisoon Al Saleh’s world, art is both a mirror and a bridge: reflecting who we are while connecting us to what we might become.
Her story is one of transformation, not just of materials, but of meaning. She paints the unseen, sculpts the untold, and invites us all to listen to the quiet dialogue between the desert and the skyline, between memory and imagination, between the timeless and the new. Through her eyes, the future of Emirati art gleams not as an echo of the past, but as a continuation of its light.