Art Majlis with Aseel Al Yaagoub: Creating Art That Reflects Who We Are
At this month's Art Majlis, Aseel Al Yaagoub explored how identity, emotion, and daily rituals shape the way we create and connect through art.
News
On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the Art Majlis returned in Riyadh, with an intimate, reflective session titled “How Do We Create Art That Reflects Who We Are?”
As part of its monthly series, Arbaaa Marketing, through its platform KSA Art, hosted a session led by visual artist Aseel Al Yaagoub. The event invited artists and art lovers to explore the connection between identity, environment, and creative expression. Known for her bright, heritage‑infused portraits, Aseel brought a deeply personal lens to the conversation.
Memory, Environment, and Personal Voice
Aseel opened the evening by reflecting on how artists are shaped by what surrounds them, from family stories to the rhythm of daily life. With warmth and humor, she described how childhood memories and Gulf imagery recur in her stylized, expressive figures, many of which blur the line between the real and the imagined.
Through select artworks, she invited participants to see the quiet power of personal perspective: how even the smallest visual decisions can reflect deeper truths about emotion, history, or identity.
Art as Everyday Dialogue
The session explored several key themes:
- How an artist’s environment and surroundings influence their work
- The relationship between environment, society, and culture in art
- Finding inspiration in our everyday lives
- How artists express their personal perspective through their work
- A discussion on selected artworks by Aseel Al Yaagoub
Guided Creative Exercise
The session also featured a short hands-on activity designed to address a common creative challenge: “I know what matters to me, but I don’t know how to turn it into art.” Attendees were guided through sketch-based prompts that encouraged them to translate values, memories, and emotions into visual ideas, prioritizing honesty over perfection.
Artist Profile: Aseel Al Yaagoub
Aseel Al Yaagoub is a Saudi visual artist whose work transforms Gulf memory into contemporary portraiture filled with emotion, color, and cultural detail. Known for her stylized faces, symbolic noses, and playful use of distortion, her art blends personal heritage with modern aesthetics, preserving everyday rituals, family textures, and identity through a distinctly regional lens. Whether on canvas or in collaborations with brands like Sephora and Bisat, Aseel’s practice stays rooted in storytelling, always reflecting the world she knows best.
Building a Creative Ecosystem
Now a regular feature in the cultural calendar, the Art Majlis continues to grow as a space for artists to connect, reflect, and collaborate. Unlike conventional artist talks, the Majlis prioritizes honest conversation, process over polish, and the stories often left out of the spotlight. Each session is intentionally intimate, creating an open, inclusive space where underrepresented voices are heard, ideas are shared across disciplines, and a creative community can take root.
Looking Ahead
As Saudi Arabia’s art scene continues to grow, platforms like the Art Majlis are playing a vital role in shaping the dialogue around creativity in the region.
Missed this session? The Art Majlis is held monthly and welcomes all who seek connection through art. Join us at the next gathering and be part of a growing movement shaping the creative future of the region.
Media & Partnerships
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