NAME :
Maisoon Al Saleh.
OCCUPATION :
Multidisciplinary Artist, Author, and Founder of The Paintly Store.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN :
Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE :
Dubai, where sand meets the skyline.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS :
Curious, bold, expressive.
WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB :
Turning thoughts into visuals that speak louder than words.
ARE THERE DAYS YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO TO THE STUDIO :
Of course, but I usually end up creating something unexpected on those days.
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR ARTWORKS :
Rooted in Emirati culture and inspired by the rhythms of my everyday surroundings.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PROUDEST ARTISTIC MOMENT :
Proudly representing the UAE across 21 countries through culture and the arts, with over 100
international exhibitions and 10 solo shows to date.
WHICH ARTWORK DID YOU ENJOY CREATING THE MOST :
Working on a four-level mural led me to connect with strangers living in the building, many of
whom came forward to thank me for transforming their space with art.
WHICH HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING TO CREATE :
The four-level mural was one of my most challenging projects, working against a tight deadline
and pushing through a sandstorm to bring it to life.
ARE THERE PIECES YOU WOULD NEVER SELL :
One of my most treasured works is a 10-meter hand-painted panorama of Dubai, bearing the
signature of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, an artwork that holds
deep personal and national significance, and is not for sale.
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU KNOW YOU WOULD BE AN ARTIST :
I was sketching since my childhood, and it never left me.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS :
It’s not about a specific artist, I’m drawn to pieces where the story behind the artwork resonates
most. I have several favorites for that very reason.
IF YOU COULD SPEND A DAY WITH ANY ARTIST ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE :
Ai Weiwei, I imagine the conversation would be raw and inspiring.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE GALLERY :
Oh dear, that’s a tough one, I’ve exhibited in so many incredible spaces, I wouldn’t want to
upset any of them by picking just one!
YOUR THOUGHTS ON AI AND ART :
It’s a brush in a new dimension.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF BEING AN ARTIST :
Creating art is a thoughtful process that takes time, yet some expect it to be done like a timed
task, as if a meaningful piece can be completed in just an hour.
WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY :
I was around eight when I first watched my aunt painting, captivated. I set up an easel beside
her and joined in with oil paints.
WHAT WERE YOU LIKE AS A KID :
Quiet observer with loud ideas.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION :
I’ve traveled extensively, always as a minimalist; I don’t carry much with me, but my artworks
have journeyed far and now live with collectors around the world.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE :
Salma Hayek.
CHOOSE A SUPERPOWER :
Time freeze, so I can finish more work.
WHAT IS YOUR WORST TRAIT :
When I’m deep in my creative zone, I can go weeks…sometimes months, without stepping out.
It usually takes my friends showing up and dragging me out just to catch a glimpse of me!
WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT :
A concept that won’t let go.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT :
I’ve explored it in depth in my memoir “33 Years of Untold Secrets”, highly recommended if
you’re curious to read more.
DO YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS :
Rarely, as I don’t have the time for it.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE :
Dark chocolate.
WHAT’S THE BEST THING YOU EVER STOLE :
A stranger’s story that they whispered to me once, now living on in brushstrokes.
YOU ARE HEADING TO THE ISS / INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, CHOOSE
4 PEOPLE TO TAKE ALONG :
An Emirati astronaut, a Chef, an Oud player, and a Barista.
WHAT WOULD A PERFECT DAY FOR YOU LOOK LIKE :
Creating without interruption, coffee on repeat, and a golden sunset with my sketchbook in
hand, or reading a book.
IF YOU COULD BE FRIENDS WITH A FICTIONAL CHARACTER WHO WOULD IT BE :
Wednesday Addams.
PICK YOUR TOP 5 MAGAZINES :
Harper’s Bazaar Art, The Art Newspaper, Frieze, Brownbook and Kinfolk.
WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ :
How AI will change your life by Patrick Dixon.
WHAT WAS THE LAST GIFT YOU GAVE SOMEONE :
A custom artwork wrapped in silence.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU :
Legacy, the kind that speaks long after I’m gone.
YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATION :
Iceland, where the landscape looks like another planet.
YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE DESTINATION :
Anywhere creativity feels boxed in.
WHAT IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST :
Curate a cross-cultural art exhibition on a moving train.
DO YOU LIKE BEING INTERVIEWED :
When the questions are this good, yes.
WHAT’S THE CLOSEST YOU HAVE COME TO DEATH :
While creating artworks underwater during a scuba dive, water suddenly rushed into my mouth and nose, making it hard to breathe. As I panicked and tried to shoot up for air, my dive buddy grabbed my fin to stop me, knowing a rapid ascent could injure my lungs. Thankfully, I made it to the surface safely, but it took a while before I could breathe normally again.
IF YOU HAD A BOAT WHAT WOULD IT BE CALLED :
I’d call it “Not a Boat”.
YOUR MOTTO OR MESSAGE :
Heritage isn’t behind us, it’s the wind in our sails, steering us through modern tides.
