Arab contemporary art performed by Emirati artist Najat Makki

Najat Makki was born in 1956 in Dubai and is a member of the Dubai Cultural Council.

McKee was the first woman to receive a government scholarship to study art abroad in 1977. She later defended her PhD thesis at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo. Actively participates in local, pan-Arab and international exhibitions. She won the ”Arab Woman 2013″ Award in the field of arts (UAE). McKee has represented the UAE at international forums and curated several art programs and forums. Najat Makki is considered a pioneer of the modern UAE art scene.

She is often praised for her early works, which depicted symbols of the culture and heritage of the Emirates, before moving on to more abstract spheres. She has been awarded many prestigious awards, including the UAE National Prize in Arts, Sciences and Literature in 2008.

“I have never left the sculpture. In my paintings you will see an attempt to convey three-dimensionality with the help of my techniques. I explore the surface using color compositions, shapes and elements,” explains McKee. Superimposing several layers of paint on top of each other gives her the opportunity to add density and texture to her paintings.

Najat Makki has participated in many international exhibitions and seminars. She has also been a member of the jury of several awards in the field of art and literature, including the Al-Baha Award (KSA) and the Arab Forum Award for the Best Children’s Book (Sharjah).