Painting by Milla, 18, from the Netherlands and Lebanon
Finished piece!
Close-up of Face detail
Work in progress…
Mediuim: Oil on Canvas
This portrait reimagines my mother as a contemporary Middle Eastern queen, drawing inspiration from Kehinde Wiley’s bold, regal compositions. Like Wiley, the piece elevates an everyday figure into an icon—someone whose strength is not only personal but cultural.
The Arabic calligraphy behind her is influenced by Shirin Neshat’s work, layering identity, language, and memory. The phrases are drawn from conversations, family sayings, and fragments of the world she grew up in. They sit behind her like a protective shield, but also like shadows—echoes of a region marked by beauty, complexity, and, at times, conflict.
The dark abstract forms surrounding her suggest the presence of uncertainty and hardship—things that shape Middle Eastern lives, including my own family’s. But she sits upright, calm, elegant, and unapologetically present. The vibrant red dress disrupts the darkness, symbolising resilience, femininity, and the quiet power of women whose stories often go unheard.
The work explores how identity is built from many layers: heritage, migration, family history, and the strength we inherit from the people who raise us. It is both a celebration and a reclamation of Middle Eastern womanhood.