At our interview Sherifa Al Khulaifi was soft spoken and thoughtful, defying our expectations for the artist who creates large installations of bold, colorful and very often shocking art on walls all over Kuwait. In 2017, Sherifa was a student at the American University of Kuwait, working towards a degree in Graphic Design when she was approached to create artwork for a cafe in the city.

She graduated in 2019 but had already been freelancing for a couple of years. If you ask her to describe her art she calls herself an “experimental artist” because she is always excited about trying to combine different mediums and styles that might not traditionally go together.
Like most of us, Sherifa enjoyed creating art as a child, but instead of growing out of it she jumped in deeper. It does help that her entire family enjoys, and relishes being hands on artists too who respect and relish the beauty that can be created by humans.

So far she has already worked on more than a dozen murals for different concepts and brands all across the country. It has taught her to become an obsessive researcher. Creating commission-based work can be challenging for an artist because it means they need to step away from their own style and be consistent with the client’s branding guidelines. However, Sherifa overcomes this by focusing on the messaging and story they are trying to tell.

First she discusses the project with the client, but before she comes up with a concept for the piece, she creates a digital mood board and collects visuals like photos and color palettes so she can brainstorm. Once she has come up with the idea, she will sketch it out to share with the client. And then the real fun begins. Surprisingly, or perhaps a sign of her skill and talent, Sherifa then proceeds to freehand the design directly on to the wall without projecting it or using a grid. She’s also quite humble about this mind blowing ability and shrugs it off as something she just learned how to do.
However, she does feel quite strongly about the function of art. She believes it needs to be more than just visual entertainment or an object of beauty. “The story behind a piece of work needs to be new, it needs to make people ask questions and have conversations and ideas,” she explained. Sherifa wants people to think when they see something she has painted. She has been though since she started doing her murals. She attributes it to an increased awareness of the importance of art in Kuwait. Businesses are eager to express their branding and identity in unique pieces of work.

Interestingly, her style is flexible and fluid. Because she has to create things for others she has developed her style while keeping her artistic identity separate from her work art. This is quite unique, because most artists can be recognized in their creations. You can still identify a Sherifa original if you look closely, though. While digital art is having its moment because of leaps in technology, Sherifa still loves the tactility of working with mixed media, texture and paint. Which might explain why Sherifa is also curious about exploring other artistic paths like fashion design. The combination of how fabric drapes and behaves when constructed excites her. We would really love to see her ideas and style translated into something wearable.

The best advice she received was to follow her passion and that is exactly what she has been doing. “Passion gives people hope and a reason to live,” she explained. But she had some advice for budding artists too. “Everyone is born an artist, but they might not have the tools or be in the right environment, but there’s always a chance to become one, art is just a form of expression,” Sherifa went on to explain.

TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE

How would your mother describe you in one word?

Mulhima.

How would you describe your mother in one word?

My supporter.

What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked?

How much do you earn monthly?

What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

One day I woke up in the morning and shaved my very very long hair all at once.

What is your theme song?

I don’t have a specific theme song because my choice of music depends on my mood.

What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented?

Authenticity.

Where would you like to live?

I don’t prefer being in one place while I’m young. I want to explore life “I wanna become a world traveling artist”.

What is your dream retirement location?

A beach house in Santa Monica Pier.

What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind?

“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. it will not lead you astray,” -Rumi.

Which animal best describes your perfect partner, be it in business, or in life?

Horses.

Do you miss anything from your childhood and if so, what is it?

The simplicity of relationships.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to? To what would you change it?

Shaikha because everyone calls me Shaikha by mistake.

How would you describe your handshake, in one word?

Warmly grateful handshake.

What is the toughest part of your character?

I’m a very sensitive person.

Who is your favorite historical figure?

Rumi.

What in the world do you least desire?

Subjectivity.

What do you think is lacking in the world, which [if there were more of it] would make the world a better place?

Acceptance.

Why do you think most people who do, like you?

I think because I appreciate diversity and accept people the way they are.

Finish this sentence: “Happiness is…”

… something we create”.

Find more of Sherifa’s art @ssk.art on Instagram. Featured image courtesy of Sherifa Al Khulaifi.