Rana Abou Saada

Rana Abou Saada (b. 2000) is a Syrian artist who studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Damascus, where she specialised in Drawing and Painting, graduating with a BA in Fine Arts in 2022. In addition, she obtained an Advanced Graphic Design diploma from Goyoom Education in 2021. 

A multi-disciplinary artist, Abou Saada has described how, during her study years, she explored a variety of experiences and techniques that contributed to the development of her artistic style. A multi-disciplinary artist, Abou Saada has described how, during her study years, she explored a variety of experiences and techniques that contributed to the development of her artistic style.

“My passion for visual expression drives me to constantly experiment with different mediums, enabling me to create pieces that reflect my personal vision and perspectives,” she has said.

Abou Saada’s practice spans digital art, painting, film and video-editing and animation. 

Abou Saada’s paintings are often figurative, featuring characters with hallmark, almost cartoonish features that include oval-shaped heads, small mouths, mismatched legs and eyes set wide apart. Headwear is another characteristic of Abou Saada’s work, with her subjects almost always wearing hats, together with themed outfits, traditional clothing or apparel inspired by history or folklore, often relating to their task or activity. Indeed, her subjects at times appear to be seemingly caught in mid-action, at a moment frozen in time, against a simplistic backdrop and completed in bold colours. 

“The personality reflects the influence of emotions and experiences faced in life,” she has explained.

Abou Saada has taken part in several group exhibitions in Syria, including: ‘The Gen-Z’, for the By Default Project, Aleppo (2024); Art Festival, Jesuit Beit Alberto, Damascus (2024); ‘Memories’, Marsella Gallery, Damascus (2024); ‘Beyond Colors 3’, Gallery Harmony, Homs (2023); ‘Mallva’, Cultural Centre, Damascus (2023); Graduation Exhibition, Cultural Centre, Sweida (2022); and ‘Idea’, Jozour Gallery, Sweida (2021).

Abou Saada currently works as a digital artist for several children’s channels on YouTube and as an animator at MTN Syria. Previous roles include undertaking an illustrating project for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and teaching painting.

Rana Abou Saada has also taken part in several volunteering projects, including initiating a Damascus-based workshop in 2023-2024, titled ‘Draw it as you see it’, which brought participants together to explore their creativity through painting. In addition, she coordinated the Art Festival at the Jesuit Beit Alberto, Damascus, in 2024.