Children's Art Exhibit

Our current Children's Art Exhibit, curated by Nora Qudah, features 40 artworks by children aged 1-18 based in the UAE. The exhibit runs until February 9, 2025.

The exhibition features the works of 18 artists from 9 countries: Maya Mahmood Saleh, Liyan Joudeh, Naya Fayyad, Hawwa Hassan, Talia Darwazeh, Roua Sandid, Emna Sandid, Alma Alghorani, Alya Mohamad, Dana Mohamad, Hind Mohamad, Samar Almutawa Powers, Salama Hassan, Laila Abu Oun, Amira Talha, Fatma Rashid Alawadhi, Mahra Majid Alzarooni, and Mira Majid Alzarooni. The artists are nationals of Jordan, the UK, Canada, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria, Uganda, USA and the UAE. Eight of the artists are Emirati.

The exhibition, which features paintings, drawings, and works of collage, is curated by Nora Qudah, a Jordanian artist and curator based in Dubai. Qudah participated in Kutubna’s MOTHERS/WORK program and teaches art workshops at the center. “I found myself in art when I became a mother,” she says. She is excited to curate Kutubna Cultural Center’s first children’s art exhibit because, she says, “Children’s imagination is not yet tailored. It has no boundaries. They express truly what they feel. They will not make a painting just because someone told them to do that. I noticed this while teaching art workshops. If you suggest something to them, they will ask you, ‘Yes, but can I do this? I want to do this.’ They will take your advice but they will do it their way, so it’s interesting what they come up with.”

Shatha Almutawa, founder and director of Kutubna Cultural Center, said: “Kutubna celebrates creativity for people of all ages. In our art workshops for people as young as two years old, it’s always inspiring to see the freedom with which the youngest children paint. Their brush strokes are not restrained by the fear that holds us back as we get older. Toddlers do not worry about ‘ruining’ their canvas—they paint with abandon, in as many layers as their souls call for. The children’s art exhibition at the center aims to remind us of the joy and freedom of childhood, and the excitement of playing with colors and textures without judging ourselves or our creativity. ”

Kutubna Cultural Center will be accepting submissions for artworks by children ages 1-18 years old based in the UAE for the next exhibit, which will open in December 2025. Follow us on Instagram @KutubnaDubai to learn when the call for submissions opens. Subscribe to our email newsletter (fill in your email address at the bottom of the page) to stay updated on events and other news at Kutubna.

Nora Qudah is a Jordanian artist based in Dubai whose work blends vibrant acrylics with inspirations drawn from music, nature, literature, and motherhood. With formal training from the Jubilee School for Gifted Students and the Orfali Art Centre in Amman, her distinctive style developed through a mix of experimentation and self-driven practice. Since 2012, Nora has been a full-time artist, completing commissions and exhibiting globally. Her work has been included in notable exhibitions such as “Message of Love I” and “Message of Love II” at Sinyar Gallery in Dubai, and she has partnered with Galleries Lafayette Le Gourmet in Dubai for both art displays and children’s workshops. In addition to commissioned work, Nora has conducted workshops for both kids and adults in Dubai and Amman. Since September 2024, she has been sharing her passion at Kutubna Cultural Center, where she revived her interest in Arab artists and culture.