Khalid Al Banna

Khalid Al Banna was born in Sharjah in 1975.  

He loved Art since his childhood, and was initially exposed to it in school. His talent evolved in time and he enrolled at the Emirates University in 1993 where he studied Architecture- engineering forms and spaces- which has enhanced his sense of mass and dimension.  

Al Banna participated in many art exhibitions and in several occasions represented Emirates University abroad. He claimed first prize in Arts at the university level.  Since 1996 Al Banna took part in numerous arts courses on pencil and oil painting as well as sculpture.  

In 2002 Al Banna began his apprenticeship at the hands of artist Yasir Al Duwaik, who offered him all his knowledge and experience for the development of his talent.  Yasir Al Duwaik inspired Al Banna to delve into the world of etching and taught him the principles and techniques of that art form.  

He went on to produce many works using etching, and it was the gateway to Black and White. He applied it to the world of contrasts, the homeland of the eternal conflict between good and evil, light and darkness, hope and despair.  

He dealt with black and white seamlessly and transparently. He studied them, scrutinized the texture and feel of different papers, attempted to introduce new techniques to the art of etching, and labored to extract countless spectrums and color gradations.  

In 2003 he introduced collage to his artwork. The result of this mix of collage and etching was some spectacular works of art rich in beautiful artistic connotations.  

Al Banna left the interpretation of his works to the viewer to identify with based on their own feelings and how much they were impacted by them.  

His first personal exhibition in 2006 to signaled his arrival as an artist with his own vision and style, one that is based on black and white and the aesthetics of color spectrums.  

He worked towards emancipating artwork from the boundaries of the traditional painting, propelling it towards broader horizons and unlimited spaces. He was able to create artwork that is at once homogenous and heterogeneous and of different shapes and sizes, bringing together life symbols in a work of art or a relief on a wall; all works containing the symbols and indicators of life. 

The artist attempts to be distinctive; distinctive in style and technique, distinctive in their use of new techniques, distinctive in presenting a modern work of art, and always attempting to perfect an exceptional and unique style.