Today we’d like to introduce you to Alaa Elshekh.
Alaa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a North African artist from Egypt who came to the U.S. by the age of 19 to study art. It’s safe to say that this is all I wanted to do since I was a little girl, I never wanted to be anything else ever but being an artist. I started making art since I was in middle school, or even before that if drawing on my whole wall in my room considered to be art. I have been here in the U.S. since 2015, I gotta say moving out of my parent’s house was never ever my plan due to social traditions, especially being a female is not at all allowed to move out before mirage. However; this is the best decision I have made in my entire life. I never was fond of school and I remember skipping classes in middle high school and college to go do art in the art room or in college years in the atelier I used to work in, I used to manage everything and take care of the business. While I worked there, I almost participated in all of the workshops, we used to draw from life with all kinds of mediums, still life portrays and model figures.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, I won’t say that it was smooth in any way, especially because of the emotional stress that I had to go through after being away from family for over 4 years now. The moving out itself, it wasn’t accepted by society at the time, the whole set of traditions were all against that. I have lost some friends and family due to this step but it was my only way to act on my dream, it was like ” if I really wanted to be an artist, I have to move out in three months” and I did. Since I was a spoiled over-protected child, it was very shocking to get out there, but I did it, I moved away alone with no family members to a whole new continent! Experiencing a new culture and a new ME. Before I take a step into the whole moving away part, I spent a whole year studying business and I hated it, I tried but there was no way I could have had a successful future in that field. I failed and I joined Arts and Crafts school for a year and half and I did pretty well in it until I was trying my luck into convincing my dad to study abroad. After 4 years living in the U.S. it’s not smooth still, but I never expected it to be so smooth, I know now how hard people must work in order to achieve their dreams and I have no problem with that whatsoever. My advice would be if you really want to change your life you have to get out of your comfort zone and literally struggle. I learned it the hard way, but I would love for every young person out there to really feel the happiness that I felt when I walked in into my very first painting class or that day that I got recognized by the art faculty for my work. It feels so amazing to achieve something you never thought would happen. Family and friends might be against you sometimes, but by the time you become what you want they will understand.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I have always wanted to be a painter & illustrator; I always loved the French posters that people used to fancy and because of that I got a strong admiration for illustration books. However; after my first year and a half in the states, I started to develop my own style in making collage art pieces out of magazines and newspapers, and here people started to notice me and appreciate my work. It’s safe to say that the most pieces that I’m proud of are collage pieces. symbolism is a big part of my work almost all the time to transfer my ideas on a surface. I get inspired by the relationship between people and each other, the relationship between people and God and the unknown. I got very influenced by the dada movement when I started diving into the mixed media.
However; Frida Kahlo was always my role model, I have a special admiration for her, her artwork and her amazing journey. I believe that art change people’s minds and it can strongly represent your ideas as a person instead of speaking it out, my dream is already coming true by being mentored by great professor here that actually pushes you forward and dare you to be yourself.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I grew up almost with mom due to my dad’s work situation. She took care of me and my sister even though she was very young in age at the time of my birth. Ironically she is a drawing teacher for elementary school levels, that was my very first exposure to drawing and colors and the whole making art mess. I will always be grateful for her support and encouragement.
Frida Kahlo comes second in a row, I was crazy in love with her body of work, personality and HER STORY! what a woman she was! I used to hang her photographs all over my room and her paintings, actually I still have them on my wall until this day. It’s very hard to translate your feelings on the canvas, she was one of the most successful artists who were able to do this. I always look up to her.
Third comes in row is Francis Bacon, who I recently started having an admiration for his strong bold paintings. I never say that I can relate to someone’s experience or story because there is no way that can happen, people are different and whatever part you can relate to there is always a different part that makes them unique. That being said, I would say that I can feel his work, it is so strong and emotional and impulsive. I love it. It’s talks to you by the strong brush strokes and the color palette. It’s just amazing.
Contact Info:
- Phone: (469) 260-0538
- Email: aelskh@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://linktr.ee/lelshekh
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