Mays Almoosawi‘s work explores the connection between the women of her upbringing and herself’s evaluation. Growing up to all their stories, beliefs and insecurities impacted her personal journey as a little girl and still is until this day. While painting she digs deeper into her own emotions, explores her inner thoughts and expresses her authentic self without external influence. Being an artist is not merely a career or a job; it is a profound and continuous journey of self-expression, growth, and exploration. As an artist, her artistic journey has evolved and transformed over time, shaping her both personally and creatively.
All Images are courtesy of Mays.
١. Can you tell us a bit about your journey into the creative world? Where did it begin for you?
I’ve always been that kid scribbling all over her school books and sometimes even on herself.
I didn’t grow up knowing much about the art world, but I always knew I wanted to be part of it. I started out studying architecture, thinking it was the closest thing to art. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t for me. The real turning point was deciding to follow my gut and switch to illustration and animation. That decision felt like the first real step into the creative world.
٢. Were there any defining moments or people that pushed you toward becoming an artist?
Honestly, there wasn’t one big moment of realization. It just felt natural, like it was always there. I come from a family of creative women. My mom, my aunts, even my grandmother expressed themselves in their own ways, and I think growing up around that made the path feel familiar.
٣. How would you describe your creative process from idea to execution?
My process is very intuitive. It usually starts with a feeling, a memory, or something someone said that stuck with me. I don’t plan too much. I sketch loosely, play with materials, and see where it takes me. I follow what feels right in the moment.
٤. What role does emotion play in how and when you create?
Emotion drives everything in my work. I always say making art feels like writing in my journal. It’s personal and raw. I paint when something’s sitting inside me that I need to release. It’s how I process things I don’t always have words for. It’s messy and healing at the same time.
٥. You work across traditional painting, digital art, and sculpture. How does each medium influence or challenge your expression?
Each one brings out something different in me.
Painting feels like an emotional outburst. When I’ve held too much in, I need to let it out. Sculpture is the opposite. It’s slow and calming, almost like meditation. Digital work is where I get to play and experiment. It’s less emotional and more about curiosity and exploring new ideas. I move between them depending on what I need at the time.
٦. Can you describe a moment when your emotional or mental state directly shaped the colors, movement, or tone of a specific piece?
That happens all the time. Depending on where I am mentally, the colors shift, the brushstrokes change, even the figures feel different. Sometimes the work is loud and chaotic, other times it’s soft and quiet. It all depends on what I’m feeling in that moment.
٧. Your art frequently centers on female figures to tell unspoken stories. What drives this focus, and what do you hope the audience connects with?
Growing up, I felt like a lot of the women around me carried quiet insecurities just for being women. When I first started drawing female figures, it felt like I was giving them a voice. Maybe even giving myself a voice.
It became a way to understand myself and the women who shaped me.
I hope others see something familiar in my work, something that says, you’re not alone.
٨. How do stories and emotions of Omani and Iraqi women, particularly your own family, resonate in your work? Do you feel a responsibility to share these narratives?
Absolutely. I was raised around strong, complex women who didn’t always have the space to express themselves fully. Their stories, especially the things they didn’t say, stayed with me. My work is one way of bringing those stories forward. It helps me make sense of where I come from while also creating space for other women to feel seen.
٩. Digital art, NFTs, and global fairs have entered your portfolio. How does the digital realm compare to painting in terms of energy and storytelling?
Painting is still my foundation. It’s physical, emotional, and I feel most present when I’m doing it. But digital art is part of me too. I studied illustration and animation, so it’s a space I feel at home in. It lets me tell stories in new ways through movement, sound, and layering that painting can’t always do on its own.
١٠. What has been a recent experience through your work, like a residency or exhibition, that taught you something unexpected?
During a recent residency, I let myself slow down.
I wasn’t focused on making something perfect. I just explored and played.
That space gave me permission to let go of control, and I ended up creating work that felt more honest than ever. It reminded me that sometimes the best things come when you stop trying to force them.
