A Word From Mariam
Art is not meant to be merely decorative or beautiful. It has the capacity to be endowed with purpose, a vision and a connection. I began painting when I was in Jr. High, trying to assign meaning to landscapes, sunsets and badly drawn figures. It wasn't until I began practicing Calligraphy at the age of 16 that I found a different way to convey the thoughts and feelings I had no words for. The intricate composition of Arabic in the Holy Quran added layers of significance to my paintings.
In the teachings of the Quran and Ahadith I found something within myself that I had been missing. It was something I've seen people scale mountains for and disappear behind foreign sunsets to find. It was clarity. Each painting that I've released, donated or given away starts with the elaborate labyrinth that is the word of God and carries a reminder of Him. Part of my vision was creating something that was more than a pretty aesthetic. Something which would have a lasting impression on the world around me. My early paintings were all donations to various fundraisers, Charity Auctions, Mosques and Relief Funds. I'm proud to donate half, sometimes more, of my profits, time and marketing options to various causes. It's a profound blessing to be able to give back.
I believe Art speaks through us. My work is incomplete until you find yourself within it. Each brush stroke and layer of Gold leaf reaches beyond it's composition and into something profound when the message you find makes a place within your heart.