Kinda Hibrawi
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Kinda Hibrawi (born June 11, 1978) is an Arab American artist. Hibrawi’s original artwork is sought by collectors and is currently exhibited in group and solo shows across California. Of Syrian descent, she grew up between Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, and the United States. Her formative years in the Middle East gave her the opportunity to study the power of the Arabic language in all of its art forms. Through her studies she began to expand on the ancient tradition of Arabic Calligraphy by giving it a modern twist. As an Arab American, she felt the need for her artwork to reflect the richness of the Middle East coupled with Western diversity. She intertwines East and West and exposes audiences to this historic art form.
She was asked by the City of Los Angeles to premiere her work in their 2006 Cultural Calendar and City Guide and is featured online for the Syrian Culture, Arts and History Center in Montreal, Canada
[edit] Biography
Born Kinda Hibrawi in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, she is the first daughter of Khalouk and Khuloud Hibrawi. She was born to a small middle-class family of Syrian heritage, with two other sisters. Hibrawi’s father worked for Saudi Aramco from 1979 until he retired in 2000, except for a one-year hiatus from 1987–88, and ended up in the company’s Government Affairs organization. The family moved to Dhahran from Riyadh in 1985, and all of the Hibrawi children attended Dhahran schools.
Encouraged to pursue the arts by her parents, Hibrawi enrolled in every art class in and out of school. It was at the Saudi Aramco medical center in Dhahran that she first saw the artwork of Tunisian calligrapher Lassaad Metoui, who interprets in paintings the poetry of Khalil Gibran. Metoui’s prints were displayed in patient waiting rooms. After graduating from Dhahran School, Hibrawi attended high school in Manama, Bahrain for three years, and then completed her senior year at The Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Massachusetts, in the U.S., where she had her first exhibition.
Hibrawi spent her freshman year in college in Beirut, Lebanon, and then moved to southern California in 1998, where she enrolled at California State University at Fullerton, majoring in illustration and graphic design. After graduation, she worked as a graphic/web designer for a computer sales/distribution company, and in 2004 with a partner started the commercial art business My Popart, LLC. My Popart (Mypopart.com) specializes in creating affordable, personalized fine art and prints for the home and office.
Her paintings range in size from 30 by 40 inches to 48 by 72 inches, and larger. Hibrawi is currently represented by the Chiarini Gallery in Santa Ana, California
[edit] Giving Back
On July 12, 2006 the tragic situation in the Middle East was set ablaze. It went beyond differing cultures, politics or religion. It become an attack on basic human rights and freedoms. Using her talents she created a Limited Edition Print that would help spread the idea of hope and aid in the humanitarian relief efforts for Lebanon and its people. Inspired from the song “Ya Beirut Sitt Al Dunia” (Beirut, Lady of the World), written by Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani and sung by world re-knowned Lebanese singer, Majdah Al-Roumi. The verse selected from this beautiful song speaks of rising from under the rubble like the almond flowers in April.
In Lebanon an estimated 1 million people were reportedly displaced and homeless. With a real and immediate impact on children, over 40% of those who died were children. As an advocate of children’s rights Hibrawi donated 100% of the proceeds collected from the Limited Print to UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.
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