Nomadic Gallery and Art Collective Hayaty Diaries announces new exhibition

We were one of the first to introduce you to Hayaty Diaries last year, more than an art collective—Hayaty Dairies is a movement. Founded in 2022 by lifelong friends Kinzy Diab and Christina Shoucair, this nomadic gallery breathes life into contemporary women artists from the MENA region, fueled by the Egyptian and Lebanese duo’s boundless passion for creativity. With each exhibition, both online and in unique physical spaces, Hayaty Diaries shines a spotlight on individual artistry while weaving together the shared threads of fearless expression and authentic visual storytelling.

Shoucair and Diab come back this November for their 4th exhibition entitled "I Forgot What You Felt Like" opening this November 6th on 32, Connaught Street in London, presenting a curation of 4 artists, Zahra Holm, Raya Kassisieh, Huda Jamal and Yasmina Hilal.

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"I Forgot What You Felt Like" brings together the voices of four visionary women artists from Palestine, Tunisia, Bahrain, and Lebanon. Each piece captures the aching sensation of drifting away from something once known, only to rediscover it as though for the first time.

For some, it’s a journey inward: a return to the body after an absence that feels almost eternal—a reconnection with lost identities, a reclamation of self. For others, it's a tender moment of rekindling with a lover thought lost to time, a healing of bonds long fractured. Or perhaps it’s the act of revisiting a once-familiar place, only to find it reshaped, reborn, seen through a different lens. Sometimes, this encounter feels like coming home; other times, it’s entirely unfamiliar.

"I Forgot What You Felt Like" becomes an intimate, emotional archive—a time capsule of memories filtered through the urgency of the present. Each work pulses with rawness, offering glimpses into lives lived, lost, and rediscovered.

RAYA KASSISIEH (Palestine-Jordan)

London-based Palestinian artist Raya Kassisieh (b. 1991) brings form and feeling into a powerful dialogue through her multidisciplinary work. With roots in textiles and patternmaking, she transforms soft materials into striking sculptural pieces using steel and bronze, delving into themes of the body, heritage, and memory.

Her creative process is a performance of drawing, painting, sculpting, and welding, with each movement embodying autonomy and identity. Kassisieh often draws from her grandmother’s photographic archive, weaving collective and personal histories with reflections on social constructs and loss. Her work, inspired by her Palestinian heritage and upbringing in Amman, channels a visceral exploration of self and shared memory.

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YASMINA HILAL (Lebanon)

Yasmina Hilal (b. 1996), a Lebanese fashion and mixed media photographer, as well as an experimental filmmaker, is reshaping the visual language of fashion with her unique artistry. Known for her bold collages and use of unconventional materials, Hilal defies traditional norms by embracing rawness and the allure of imperfection.

Her approach layers film photography with ink, stitched threads, and textures, creating a beautifully deconstructed aesthetic that feels like piecing together an intricate puzzle. Each image is carefully captured, torn apart, and reassembled, radiating a distinct energy that redefines fashion’s visual boundaries. With ambitions to make her mark both internationally and at home in Lebanon, Hilal invites us into a strikingly fragmented world—an avant-garde exploration of beauty and individuality.

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ZAHRA HOLM (Tunisia)

Contemporary artist Zahra Holm (b. 1989) creates evocative works that bridge her life between Stockholm and France, focusing on the beauty and strength of the human form. Known for her bold colors and fluid, curvaceous lines, Holm’s art celebrates the soulful connection between humans and nature, inviting viewers into a sensory journey where each form pulses with emotional resonance.

In her latest pieces, Zahra delves into symbolism and spirituality, blending movement with introspective themes. Her work has captivated audiences in Paris, London, and Mexico City and garnered international acclaim in publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Milk Magazine. With collaborations spanning luxury hotels, restaurants, and global brands, and a growing roster of private collectors, Zahra Holm’s influence in the contemporary art world is ever-expanding, her semi-abstract compositions a testament to the power of art to connect soul and nature.

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HUDA JAMAL (Bahrain)

Huda Jamal, a rising Bahraini artist and architecture major, is redefining contemporary art by casting a stark gaze on the world's rawest truths. A member of the Bahrain Contemporary Art Association, Huda’s work confronts societal and political issues without the veil of romanticism, unflinchingly exposing the unvarnished realities that shape our lives.

Drawing inspiration from theater scenography and its power to stimulate the senses, she weaves elements of architecture with figurative art and symbolism, creating a narrative style that is both haunting and thought-provoking. Her art channels the drama of staged settings, exploring how the architecture of a scene can reflect and intensify real-life struggles. Through this innovative fusion, Huda Jamal invites us into a visual dialogue that resonates on both emotional and intellectual levels, marking her as a unique voice in Bahrain’s contemporary art scene.

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Discover more on Hayaty Diaries and keep up with their news, here

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Cover picture:

Left: "Dawn Of Quiet Sun", Zara Holm

Right: "My Last Wish", Huda Jamal