About Samar Hussaini

Samar Hussaini, is an Arab American, Fine Artist, and Graphic Designer working, creating, and living outside of NYC in West Orange, NJ. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, with a double major in Studio Art and Art History, Hussaini started her career with an art residency and solo exhibit at Darat El Fanun in Amman, Jordan, in 1993. Soon after she moved to NYC to get her Master’s in Communication Design from Pratt Institute, Hussaini worked in advertising, winning several awards such as the Silver Award from DTC, the Gold Award from DTC, and Creative Recognition from The One Show RX. Her fine artwork has been exhibited in several group shows around New Jersey, New York, and Washington, DC,  Along with her solo exhibit at Gallery Al-Quds in Washington, DC, she was chosen as the Maplewood Ideas Festival featured artist in 2017, received a certificate of recognition from the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition in 2018, was honored with an Innovative Fine Art Award from the CATHARINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUB in 2019, and most recently awarded honorable mention at the 2019 NJ Maplewood Art Walk.

Artist Statement

Born in the United States to Arab parents, one a refugee and the other an immigrant, Samar Hussaini seeks to visualize the layered challenges and enriching distinction of being an Arab-American and at the same time striving to create and challenge the viewer with thought-provoking ideas of dialogue and hope. Abstract works reference a layered history and vibrant culture in the face of adversity telling the positive narrative of Arab identity and heritage through the reinterpretation of cultural icons. Hussaini explores the resilience of Arab culture and feminine identity in society. She shares the narrative of identity and heritage through the reinterpretation of cultural icons such as embroidered cross stitch indicating the practice associated with women’s self-expression, the iconic patterned Keffiyeh, a traditional head covering symbolic of freedom, hope, and people’s fight against oppression. All are meant to intertwine with multimedia layers of acrylic paint, charcoal, ink, collage, and gold leaf, anchoring her narrative and revealing hidden layers. The tension and conflict through overlapping layers of color, charcoal line, traditional elements, and written word, create visual harmony and a narrative of origin. Hussaini received her BA in studio art and art history from the University of Maryland and a Master’s in communication design from Pratt Institute. Hussaini worked in advertising receiving the Silver Award from DTC, the Gold Award from DTC, and Creative Recognition from The One Show RX for her advertising designs. Her fine artwork has been exhibited in several group shows and along with her solo exhibit at Gallery Al-Quds in Washington, DC, she was chosen as a Maplewood Ideas Festival featured artist. She received a certificate of recognition from Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition in 2018, an Innovative Fine Art Award from the CATHARINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUB, and an honorable mention at the NJ Maplewood Art Walk. Samar Hussaini lives and works outside of New York in West Orange, New Jersey. Her art is a record of her Arab identity and every viewer is part of her achievement.

New Brunswick Art Salon 2021 Fall Watercolor and Mixed Media Exhibition

Education

Pratt Institute of Design, 2001, MS, Communications Design, Digital Design Concentration, New York, NY

Corcoran School of Art, 1997, Computer Graphics Certificate, Washington, DC

University of Maryland, 1993, BA, Studio Art and Art History

Awards and Publications

  • Honorable Mention Maplewood Art Walk, 2019
  • Innovative Fine Art Award CATHARINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUB, 2019
  • Certificate of Recognition BWAC Gallery, 2018
  • Published Article Pacc Literary Magazine, May 2018
  • GARDISIL.com Website
    • Best Branded Website
    • Silver Award from DTC, 2009
  • SINGULAIR Back to School Promo Site
    • Best Branded Website
    • Gold Award from DTC, 2008
  • Mark Martin & Viagra Co-branded Site
    • Creative Recognition from The One Show RX 2005

Exhibitions

2021

  • State of Mind, Solo Exhibit, West Orange Library, West Orange, NJ, November 14 – December 31
  • SOMA Studio Tour Group Exhibition, Maplewood, NJ, November 6 – November 7
  • Juried Maplewood Art Walk Maplewood, NJ, September 2016, September 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 2nd
  • Annual Online Associates Show, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, NY, October 1 – December 31
  • Allied Artists of America 108th Annual Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, September 2 – 19
  • Artists’ Choice Regional Juried Group Show, Foundry Gallery, Washington, DC, August 6 – 29
  • The Belmar Arts Council Virtual Juried Art Show, Belmar, NJ, May 16 – June 18

2021

  • SOMA Studio Tour Group Exhibition, Maplewood, NJ, November 7 – November 8
  • The Impossible Dream Group Exhibition, Zenith Gallery, Washington, DC, October – December
  • Online Associate and Non-Member Show Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, New York, NY, October – December
  • 20/20 Abstraction Virtual Exhibit Group Exhibit, Good Crowd Events and i19 Gallery, NJ, October – November
  • The Place called Home Group Exhibit, Studio Montclair Gallery, Montclair, NJ, March – April
  • Art of Palestinian Women Group Exhibit, Museum of Palestinian People, Washington, DC, March – December
  • Telling the Palestinian Story Group Exhibit, Palestine Museum, Woodbridge, CT, March – December
  • The Curator’s Lens Group Exhibit, Herb + Miller Iris Gallery, South Orange, NJ, January – July
  • Art is Not Optional Group Exhibit, Jerusalem Fund, Washington, DC, January – February

2019

  • Coaction Collaborative Collaborative Art Group Exhibit, 1978 Maplewood Arts Center, NJ, November
  • ARTFIRST Group Exhibition, Novado Gallery, Newark NJ, September-November
  • Open Orange 2019 Group Exhibition, Valley Arts, Orange, NJ, June
  • NAWAThe Art of Layering Group Exhibit, NAWA Gallery, NY, March
  • The Windows Solo Exhibit, Studio Montclair Gallery, NJ, January
  • 122nd Annual Open Group Exhibition National Arts Club, NY, January
  • Coaction Collaborative Group Exhibition, Unbound Dora Stern Gallery Orange, NJ, October

2018

  • FootPrints Solo Exhibit, Artful Bean – Valley Arts, Orange, NJ, July
  • Membership Show Group Exhibition, Valley Arts, Orange, NJ, July 14 – 30
  • SOMA Studio Tour Group Exhibition, Oh Canary, Maplewood, NJ, June 2 – June 3
  • Permanent Collection Palestine Museum, Woodbridge, CT
  • Wide Open 9 Group Exhibition, BWAC Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, May 12 – June 17
  • Passages Group Exhibition, Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA, January 27 – March 4

2017

  • Hope for the Holiday’s Group Exhibition, Monmouth Museum, NJ, November 19 – December 28
  • Cut Loose Group Exhibition, Pierro Gallery, South Orange, NJ, September 21- October 21
  • Resilient Solo Exhibit, Jerusalem Fund Washington DC, June 9 – July 28
  • City Without Walls Group Exhibition, Seton Hall School of Law, NJ, June 6 – September 10
  • View Points 2017 Group Exhibit, Aljira Center, Newark NJ, June 1 – July 7
  • Art in the Time of Resistance Group Exhibition, Pierro Gallery, South Orange, NJ, May 10-June 17
  • Samar Hussaini Solo Exhibit, Maplewood Ideas Festival Artist, Maplewood Library, Maplewood, NJ, March

2017

  • Breaking the Static Group Exhibition, Blue Scarf Collective Pop-Up, South Orange, NJ, October 21 – 31

1993

  • Artist Residency and Solo Exhibit Darat El Fanun, Amman Jordan

Artist Interview