About The Artist

General:

Born in 1987 in the city of Tripoli, Lebanon

Education:

B.S. in Graphic Design from the Lebanese American University — Beirut
M.A. in Marketing Communications from the University of Westminster — London

Career:

Worked with the United Nations until she quit her job to become a full-time artist

Highlights:

Hayat is most well-known for her street art during the Lebanese Revolution.

Some of her artworks are:

The Phoenix of the Revolution — built from the debris of the burnt and broken tents that were destroyed by pro-government supporters

Saucepans Tree — a reinterpretation of the Lebanese people’s family tree, raising awareness against sectarianism. It is made out of people’s saucepans and decorated with their names and regions.

The Heart of the Revolution — made from tear gas canisters collected during the protests, stones that the protestors used, razor wire in reference to the siege surrounding the Lebanese parliament, and the Grand Serail, as well as a metal base alluding to the check points of the Lebanese army that are scattered around Beirut.

Several graffiti:

Selmiyeh — on the role of women in keeping the Lebanese revolution of 17th October peaceful
Phoenix — rising from the ashes of the forest fires that broke out in Lebanon on the 13th of October of 2019
Mish Selmiye — a tribute to the protestors who lost their eyes due to rubber bullets shot by the police — amongst several others

biography

Before the art

Prior to dedicating myself to art, I had been active within the humanitarian scene in Lebanon since my teenage years.

Driven by a need to create change in the world, I perused a career in humanitarian work with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), as well as represented Lebanon across the world through my role at the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs as part of the team working on the dossiers of Syrian Refugees.

Despite my efforts, I felt restrained and unfulfilled in governmental posts and unable to fulfill my desire to connect with the community and give them a voice, which is why I resigned in 2017 from my position to embark on a journey as a full-time artist to make a greater impact.

After the art

Through multi-layered artistic endeavors, I attempt to tackle several seemingly separate yet interconnected matters at once. Even though I no longer am part of formal humanitarian organizations, my primary passion and the propeller of my creative process is humanitarian and community-driven at heart.

My work is derived from dreams, aspirations, and visions while touching on social issues within Lebanese society. All of my artistic endeavors are the result of community-driven efforts conceived as collaborative goals between otherwise unacquainted individuals, thus creating a sense of cross-societal integration — including marginalized individuals.

In doing so, I create more than just paintings and sculptures; but rather inclusive and purposeful collaborations that bring the community closer while raising awareness on unconscious consumerism, solid waste pollution, up-cycling, and waste management through sculptural work predominantly sourced from discarded materials, thus shedding light on the circular motion in which we live in where we dispose of waste instead of creating something new.

Since then, my paintings and up-cycled sculptures have spread their wings across eight countries: Lebanon, Monaco, UK, Geneva, Italy, UK, USA, UAE, and Egypt.

Future aspirations

I intend to continue creating change through art and am currently developing projects to expand my outreach and capacity to make a difference.

My focus remains on social integration, livelihoods, and freedom of expression while promoting art therapy, upcycling, and waste management.

Mission

My goal is to create a positive impact through art by inspiring as many people as possible to overhaul the current political system in Lebanon, fight for equality, people’s rights, freedom, and basic human needs.

On a personal level, I wish to encourage people to follow their dreams, do good, help others, love themselves, and make peace.