Maisa Shaldan: Weaving Heritage and Healing Through Art

Maisa Shaldan, a Saudi visual artist with Palestinian roots, has carved a unique path that intertwines cultural heritage, psychological introspection, and artistic expression. Her journey from an educational and family counselor to a celebrated visual artist exemplifies a profound commitment to exploring the depths of human experience through art.

For emerging artists, her story offers a powerful lesson: it is never too late to follow your passion and reinvent yourself. The courage to embrace change and trust in one’s inner voice can lead to the most authentic and meaningful creative journeys.

From Counseling to Canvas

With a degree in Islamic studies and a master's in educational psychology counseling, Shaldan spent years aiding individuals in navigating their personal challenges. Her counseling background gave her a deep understanding of the human psyche—insight that would later become a vital foundation for her art.

However, despite her success in the field, Shaldan felt an unshakable calling toward visual art. In 2015, at the age of forty, she courageously enrolled in a Visual Arts Diploma at Bexhill University. This transition marked a bold career shift and demonstrated that passion, when combined with determination, can chart an entirely new life path.

For aspiring artists, her decision underscores an important truth: creative potential is timeless. Whether you are twenty or forty, pursuing art is always a worthy endeavor.

Artistic Philosophy and Mediums

Shaldan’s art is deeply philosophical and sensory. She works with natural elements—oxidized metals, palm fibers, handmade paper, henna, and copper oxidation—infusing each piece with layers of meaning and tactile richness.

Her creative process mirrors the psychological transitions she once explored in counseling: gathering, deconstructing, and reconstructing materials to reflect states of transformation. Shaldan often speaks of working in the space “between the door and what lies beyond it, between dream and awakening.” This liminal zone is where her art lives—in moments of transition, growth, and rediscovery.

For Shaldan, art is not a separate endeavor from life—it is life. “Art is how I breathe,” she says. “It’s not about whether I’m continuing or not—this is my way of living.” This philosophy is reflected in her constant search for meaning and discovery within her creative practice.

She is fascinated by the space between reality and imagination. Often, her works are inspired by stories that blur the line between truth and fiction, leading her to a realm of mystery and reflection. “Is the story I heard true? Or is it an imaginary assumption?” she asks, exploring these themes through her materials and forms.

The Influence of Place and Memory

Shaldan’s connection to place is profound. Living near Mount Uhud in Madinah, she often draws inspiration from its historical and spiritual significance. The ancient presence of Madinah, “existing since the beginning of time,” fuels her reflections on heritage and continuity.

Her childhood memories also shape her work. Though she recalls little of her early years, she vividly remembers always drawing—paper and pen were constants in her life. Today, her creative journey continues to be an exploration of self and memory.

Poetry also inspires her practice. A verse by Syrian poet Bakr Jaber—“Memories knock in my head like a rusty chisel”—sparked a recent project exploring the architecture of memory. Using building materials, Shaldan explores how memory is reconstructed, likening iron and paper to the brain’s interaction with events.

Her process often leads her to unexpected discoveries. While cleaning stones, she once found papers inscribed with divine names and personal reflections on living in peace—fragments of forgotten lives that now inform her work. She incorporates materials like colored burlap, once used to clothe children in times of austerity, and pages from early printed newspapers from Jeddah, layering history, humanity, and material culture.

Notable Works and Exhibitions

"The Inheritor's Will" (2023)

Supported by the Misk Art Grant, this installation explores the forgotten meanings behind plaster decorations and inscriptions in Saudi Arabia's traditional mud houses. Using oxidized metal, Shaldan constructs a silent narrative that encourages viewers to reflect on cultural inheritance and the fragility of memory.

"She is Commanded" (2024)

A paper sculpture celebrating the deep cultural identity of Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah. Through a fusion of cuneiform, pictographic, and Arabic scripts, the work contemplates the layers of history, identity, and the unseen forces that shape us.

"Hidden in a Cocoon"

Part of the "Limitless Museum" series, this immersive installation features a cocoon-like space woven from palm fibers. It invites participants to disconnect from modern distractions and reconnect with a primal sense of self—a message that resonates powerfully in today’s fast-paced world.

Each of these works demonstrates Shaldan’s ability to merge the physical and the spiritual, the seen and the unseen. For young artists, her projects exemplify how thoughtful material choices and conceptual depth can result in transformative experiences for audiences.

Recognition and Impact

Shaldan’s work has earned both local and international acclaim. Her pieces were exhibited at UNESCO in 2018 and have been acquired by governmental institutions, private collectors, and major exhibitions in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

Notably, her participation in the Intermix Residency in Riyadh highlighted her innovative exploration of natural materials, further establishing her as a leading voice in the contemporary Saudi art scene.

For emerging artists, her recognition serves as a reminder that authenticity and dedication often resonate beyond borders. When you create from a place of sincerity, the world will notice.

A Legacy Intertwined with Culture and Emotion

At its heart, Maisa Shaldan’s art invites contemplation of cultural identity, personal transformation, and the emotional threads that connect past and present. Each piece reflects her unique life journey and offers viewers a space to reflect on their own.

For Shaldan, art is a celestial space—“a place where you can sit calmly, look at the earth from afar, and see what you can do, what opportunities exist.” It is an inseparable part of her being, her thoughts, her questions. Whether she produces a finished work or not, engaging in this process is what fulfills her.

Her story is one of courage, reinvention, and unwavering dedication to her artistic truth. For new artists standing at the threshold of their creative paths, Shaldan’s journey offers this inspiring message: it is never too late to become the artist you were meant to be. Your story matters. Your art matters. Trust the process—and begin.

For more information on her work, visit her official website: maisashaldan.com.